Laser shock processing was performed on 00Cr12 standard tensile specimens to reveal its effect on fatigue properties. Mechanical properties of the specimens were tested at the temperatures of 25 degrees C, 400 degrees C, 500 degrees C and 600 degrees C respectively. The correlations between the fatigue times and the axial strain at different temperatures were explored. The results indicate that the anti-fatigue life of material is enhanced greatly at the room temperature after laser shock processing in which residual compressive stress is mechanically produced into the surface. The yield strength and the elasticity coefficient of 00Cr12 specimens are enhanced greatly after laser shock processing; the cycle times are obviously longer at the elevated temperature, and the laser-shocked samples exhibit lower plastic strain amplitudes compared with the non-treated ones. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.