AbstractThe creation of wear resistant surface metal matrix composites in both aluminium alloys and titanium via the incorporation of preplaced SiCphas been successfully undertaken by using a 5 kW CO2laser. The problems associated with the production of a metal matrix composite layer freefrom porosity, cavities, and cracks, with a satisfactory distribution of ceramic were considered. Optimum laser processing conditionsfor Al–SiCpgave a well distributed ceramic withfew defects, but limited to 35μm thickness. This was increased to 250μm using a preplaced mixture of Al powder and SiCp. A prep laced SiCplayer on commercially pure Ti resulted in a dissolution of SiCpand precipitation of TiC, or the partial dissolution of SiCpand agglomeration into a hard layer (1400 HV). Pin on disc wear tests indicated that surfaces could be produced via laser surface melting associated with preplaced SiCpwhich showed a similar wear resistance to bulk metal matrix composite Al alloy–SiCp, and an improvement of an order of magnitude for commercially pure Ti–SiCpsurface metal matrix composites, over a commercially pure Ti laser treated surface.MST/3003