Internal combustion engine durability is enhanced if the side faces of the ring grooves in the pistons have a wear resistant surface. The present work concerns the development of a technique to achieve local hardening of medium speed steel crowned and cast iron pistons, based on the use of a 5 kW industrial laser. Specific aspects of the development which are discussed include: beam coupling and choice of absorbing coatings, choice of beam power density/interaction time, metallurgy, treatment of the edges of external corners, back tempering, and induced distortion and surface changes. The work has resulted in the treatment of prototype pistons for evaluation in engine trials.
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