Surface Treatments

A surface treatment is the modification of a material’s surface using various means to improve some characteristic of the material, in this case the corrosion resistance. Conversion coatings and anodizing involves a chemical reaction to create an improved corrosion resistant oxide film layer on the metal’s surface. Shot peening is a mechanical process to induce compressive residual stresses improving resistance to SCC and corrosion fatigue. Laser treatment uses heat to modify surface structure, aid a chemical reaction in modifying the surface, or to induce compressive residual stresses within a metal to increase its resistance to SCC and corrosion fatigue.