Abstract: Method for producing oxide layers which protect against wear and/or corrosion on barrier layer-forming metals, preferably aluminum, magnesium and titanium, alloys and mixtures thereof by means of laser treatment, characterized in that on the surface a continuous near-surface oxygen-plasma is produced to form the oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing wear-resistant layers on materials of barrier-layer-forming metals, such as aluminum, magnesium and titanium and their alloys and mixtures, preferably aluminum or its alloys, by means of laser treatment, the material surface being exposed to a laser irradiation in the presence of an atmosphere containing oxygen in such a way that the upper or outer layer of the material surface reacts with the oxygen to form an oxide of the metal constituting the material, preferably aluminum oxide, and the layer of the material lying under that is remelted without reacting with the atmosphere containing oxygen. This results in a multilayer structure with excellent wear-resistant properties, including excellent corrosion resistance, excellent abrasion resistance and extreme hardness that does not exhibit any brittleness as a result of the hardness gradient within the layer structure.

Abstract: Lead-free nickel phosphorus dispersion alloy present on a metallic substrate surface, obtainable by electroless deposition in an electrolyte which contains 4 to 7 g/l of nickel ions; 15 to 40 g/l of hypophosphite; at least one stabiliser; 5 to 400 mg/l of an alkylaryl oxydialkyl benzyl ammonium chloride or a partially fluorinated betaine; 50 to 60 g/l of a carboxylic acid-containing complexing agent A; 5 to 40 g/l of a carboxylic acid-containing complexing agent B different from A; 4 to 10 g/l of dispersed particles which differ from the composition of the nickel/phosphorus alloy; and contains no boric acid or borates, and articles coated therewith.

Abstract: Lead-free chemically produced nickel alloy containing nickel, phosphorus, bismuth and antimony, process for the production of such a nickel alloy by externally electroless metal deposition in an aqueous electrolyte and articles plated therewith.