Welding is one of the most widely used joining processes in the world. It is used in nearly every industry, from automotive to aerospace and construction.
Recently, the process of peening has been gaining ground in welding circles and has been utilized by more industries than ever. Peening is a process that brings numerous, remarkable benefits to the field of welding and is estimated to have been used in over 5 million welding applications in the past five years. It is a process that is often underrated and misunderstood, but is nonetheless important to the field of welding.
Let us learn more about what peening in welding is, the advantages of its use, and how it can improve the end product.
What Is Peening In Welding?
Welding is a process used in the fabrication and construction of materials like metals and plastics. Peening is a special kind of welding that produces a unique finish to the welded material.Peening involves striking the weld with a peening hammer in order to compress and work-harden the weld and surrounding material. This increases the strength of the joint and can also prevent cracking and reduce porosity in the weld.
How Is Peening Applied?
The peening process requires a specialized hammer and peening pin. The types of hammers used for peening depend on the material being worked and the nature of the weld.A quality peening hammer should be well-balanced and of ideal length to maximize the impact force and minimize the effort of the operator. The peening pin is used to form the shape and texture of the peened weld.
The Benefits of Peening
Using peening in welding offers many advantages. The peening process imparts compression to the welded zone, which increases the strength and ductility of the joint.Peening also helps to reduce material distortion, which can be a major issue in welding thin materials. Peening can also help protect the welded joint from fatigue and weathering and ensure that the finished weld is of a high quality.
Important Considerations When Peening
Although peening is a very useful technique in welding, it can also result in some drawbacks if not applied correctly.When peening, the operator should keep several points in mind, such as how hard and long to strike the weld, the speed of the peening process, and the temperature of the weld. It is also possible for peening to damage the material or create an undesirable finish, so operators should pay close attention to these details.