Laser hardening results in an extremely fine-grained and tough structure, making the hardened metal extremely cracking resistant. With laser hardening, the same hardness results can be achieved as with conventional hardening processes.

All common metals can be hardened, such as tempered steels, structural steels, cold work steels and cast steel. So can various types of gray cast iron, like graphite cast iron with lamellar or spheroidal graphite (with at least 80 % pearlite).