Modification of surface layer of hypoeutectic silumin by electroexplosion alloying followed by electron beam processing

•The strengthening of hypoeutectic silumin surface was performed by complex method.•The multiple increase in wear resistance of modified layer has been established.•The formation of multiphase submicro – nanodimentional states was revealed. The analysis of structure, phase composition and tribological properties of surface layers of hypoeutectic silumin after complex treatment including the electroexplosion alloying by yttrium oxide powder in different modes and subsequent electron beam processing was done by the methods of modern physical material science. The complex treatment is accompanied by the formation of multi–phase submicro – nanocrystalline layer up to 80 μm thick enriched by yttrium atoms and being responsible for the increase in wear resistance. It is shown that Y atom concentration in the modified layer depends on electroexplosion alloying (EEA) mode. The distribution of Y atoms in the layer depends on the mode of EEA as well.