Abstract: A high temperature wear resistant material is disclosed for use in engine components such as an exhaust valve seat insert to reduce high temperature exhaust valve seat wear. The material consists by weight of about 40-70% Cu, about 20-60% Ni, about 3-14% Al and up to about 1.5% other alloying ingredients with normal processing impurities.

Abstract: A method for welding an electrical lead wire to a terminal pin with the use of a laser beam. The method is particularly designed for use in welding an electrical lead wire of an exhaust gas sensor to a terminal pin having an opening through which the electrical lead wire extends to the exterior of the pin. The lead wire may be made of nichrome material and the terminal pin from leaded steel. The laser beam is positioned vertically above the extended portion of the lead wire and its focal point is above the end of the lead wire. No separate filler metal is required since the lead wire material is itself available as a filler material.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing physical properties of a non-allotropic metal article along a beam affected zone. A preferred method comprises passing a high energy beam (of at least 10,000 watts/cm.sup.2 measured at the interface of the beam with the article across a predetermined surface area at a rate to cooperate with the proportioning of the total article mass with respect to the beam affected zone mass to produce a rapid self-quenching rate and thus assure a desired precipitate and/or intermetallic compound in the resolidification zone. The high energy beam is preferably a laser generated by a device having a power level of at least 500 watts.