After a short recall of various techniques that use shots to induce Surface Severe Plastic Deformation (SSPD) and a brief survey of the advantages of having a gradient structure for mechanical properties, this contribution reviews recent developments taking advantages of the "reactivity" of these modified surfaces in the fields of corrosion, "duplex" surface treatments as well as potential applications for an easier activation of H-storage materials.
The importance of controlling the processing parameters (including temperature) to get the optimum gradient structure depending on the desired applications are also highlighted.