Abstract
The deterioration of materials during industrial application poses a serious threat to the
materials structural integrity. A material’s susceptibility to wear and surface damage
can be reduced by alteration of its surface chemistry, morphology and crystal structure.
Therefore, modification of surface properties plays an important role in optimizing a
material’s performance for a given application. Modern industrial applications require
materials with special surface properties such as high hardness, wear and corrosion resistance,
therefore materials engineers are vital to regularly examine how the microstructure
of a material can be altered. Aluminium-based alloys have a wide application in the
automotive, domestic and aerospace industries due to their excellent mechanical properties
such as good weldability, sound castability and outstanding resistance to corrosion.
The purpose of this research is to enhance inherent properties of the materials to create
new products or improve on existing ones. The most effective engineering solution to
prevent or minimize such surface region of a component is done by fibre lasers. It was
concluded that Hypereutectic Al-Si alloys having transition metals are exceptional materials
due to their specific properties. The addition of Cu, Fe, Cr, Si, Mg and Ni to Al-based
alloys can improve the mechanical properties at both ambient and elevated temperatures.