Laser hardening is primarily applied to ferrous metals, including various steels and cast irons, that have sufficient carbon content to undergo martensitic transformation. Industries such as automotive, aerospace and mechanical engineering utilise laser hardening to enhance the wear resistance and lifespan of components like gears, camshafts, and moulds. The process is particularly advantageous for large or complex parts, as mobile laser hardening systems can treat these components in situ, reducing downtime and eliminating the need for disassembly. 

Laser hardening offers several benefits compared to conventional techniques:

• Precision and Control: The laser allows for exact control over the area being hardened, enabling selective treatment of specific surfaces without affecting the entire component.
• Minimal Distortion: Due to localised heating and rapid self-quenching, there is reduced thermal distortion, preserving the component’s dimensional accuracy.
• No Need for External Quenching: The process utilises the material’s own mass to cool the heated area, eliminating the requirement for external quenching media like water or oil.
• Efficiency: Laser hardening is a fast process, often completed in seconds, leading to significant time and energy savings. 

Laser hardening is a surface treatment process that uses a high-powered laser beam to heat the surface layer of a metal component to its austenitizing temperature. This rapid, localised heating is followed by self-quenching, where the surrounding material cools the heated area quickly, transforming it into martensite—a hard and wear-resistant microstructure. This method enhances the surface hardness and durability of metal parts without the need for external quenching media.