The wear and the high-temperature oxidation resistance of the D2 steel (Fe-1.5 C-12 Cr-0.95 Mo-0.9 V-0.3 Mn) were increased by laser surface alloying after coating the surface with SiC or Cr3C2 powder. The surface alloys exhibit two microstructures: hypoeutectic and hypereutectic, respectively, all containing iron solid solutions and iron-chromium carbides, (Fe,Cr)(7)C-3. The oxidation resistance of these alloys was measured in isothermal and cyclic conditions, and was shown to increase with silicon or chromium additions, particularly due to the formation of a chromia scale with excellent behaviour during thermal shoks. The surface alloy obtained with Cr3C2 also has shown a better resistance to wear due to its hypereutectic microstructure. (c) 2005 Springer Science+ Business Media, Inc.