High-Frequency Mechanical Impact Treatment
An optimized post-treatment process for reducing notch effects at welds through high-frequency hammering. It significantly increases the fatigue life of dynamically loaded welded structures.
This is post-treatment with a needle scaler or, better said, with a pneumatic hammer. You take a high-frequency impact tool and hammer the weld and the transition to the base material. This smooths the surface and compresses the notch effect at the weld edge, making the component significantly more durable. If you go over it too roughly or press the hammer too hard, you over-peen the material. Then the surface becomes cold-worked and can become brittle or even develop microcracks. The hammer must be clean and sharp, and you guide it evenly over the weld without jerking. A steady, even pressure is more important than a lot of force.