Thermomechanical Surface Hardening Raises Spring Life

Author:  News Release
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 13/Issue 2, Summer 1999
Doc ID:  1999085
Year of Publication:  1999
Abstract:  
A thermomechanical surface hardening process that is said to provide an 80% increase in the durability of leaf springs over coventional stress peened components, has been developed by Krupp Hoesch Federn GmbH, Germany. The new process combines shot peening and thermal treatment, which improves the surface characteristics of spring steels. This is significant because the loads to which a spring is subjected are exerted most strongly on the surface of spring leaves. In many cases, the increased strength means that one less leaf is needed in a three- or four-leaf assembly, resulting in savings much greater than the cost of the process.