Steel Shot / HC
High Carbon Steel Shot
High hardness (54-61 HRC) steel shot for aggressive cleaning and high peening intensity applications.
Technical Specifications
Key Features
- Hardness: 54-61 HRC
- High carbon content (0.85-1.20% C)
- Aggressive cleaning capacity
- High peening intensity (Almen value)
- Fast surface preparation
- Compliant with SAE J827 standard
Applications
- Shot peening (spring, gear, crankshaft)
- Heavy rust and scale cleaning
- Forging surface preparation
- Aerospace part shot peening
- High-strength bolt peening
- Automotive transmission parts
Dimension Table
| Grade | Nominal Size (mm) | Hardness (HRC) | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S110 | 0.3 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S170 | 0.4 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S230 | 0.6 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S280 | 0.7 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S330 | 0.8 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S390 | 1.0 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S460 | 1.2 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S550 | 1.4 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S660 | 1.7 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
| S780 | 2.0 | 54-61 | ≥7.0 |
Technical Notes
- 01Higher breakage rate possible due to high hardness compared to standard shot.
- 02Peening parameters must be controlled via Almen intensity test.
- 03Over-peening risk should be considered for sensitive parts.
- 04Particle size in operating mix should be regularly checked.
- 05Machine wear condition should be inspected more frequently.
Other Types
What is steel shot?
Steel shot is a spherical cast steel abrasive used in shot blasting and shot peening. It is produced in sizes S110–S780 (roughly 0.3–2.0 mm); standard hardness is 40–50 HRC, with high-carbon hard grades reaching 55–62 HRC. Chemistry, hardness and microstructure follow SAE J827; size classification follows SAE J444.
Shot vs grit and size selection
Spherical steel shot works the surface by peening: it removes scale and sand, cleans without roughening, and in shot peening raises fatigue strength by inducing compressive stress. Angular steel grit cuts the surface instead — preferred where a coating anchor profile is needed before painting. Size selection follows the job: fine shot (S110–S230) gives more impact points and faster coverage; coarse shot (S330–S780) carries higher impact energy for thick scale and heavy parts. In wheel-blast machines steel shot is recycled for thousands of cycles; the operating mix is maintained by regular screening. Cast shot reaches its tempered-martensite structure by quench and temper and ships with fully traceable certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between steel shot and grit?+
Shot is spherical and peens the surface (cleaning, peening); grit is angular and cuts, creating the anchor profile needed before painting or coating. The application goal decides which to use.
Which shot size for which job?+
Fine sizes (S110–S230) for fast coverage and delicate surfaces; medium (S280–S390) for general descaling; coarse (S460–S780) for thick scale, castings and heavy steel fabrication.
Which standards cover steel shot?+
Chemistry, hardness and microstructure per SAE J827; size distribution and screening classes per SAE J444. Standard-grade hardness is 40–50 HRC.
How many times can steel shot be reused?+
Thousands of cycles in wheel-blast machines — far lower consumption than mineral abrasives. Broken particles are screened out and the operating mix is balanced with fresh shot.
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