Abstract <p>This paper presents the results of metallographic and pyrometric studies of hardening zones and tribotechnical tests of samples hardened by a semiconductor laser when processing steel 25 with a rectangular spot with dimensions of 32 × 8 mm. Pyrometric measurements of laser spot impact zones on steel showed changes in the surface temperature within 1170–1250°C depending on the laser hardening modes. According to the regression equations, the system’s response surfaces are constructed, determining the depth and width of the heat-hardening zones on the scanning speed and radiation power. The calculated values of the hardening zone depth and surface temperatures differed from their measured values by 4–9%. Tests to determine the wear rate and friction coefficients were carried out on a friction machine with a vertical rotation axis according to the following scheme: rectangular flat sample with laser broadband hardening; the base material is end face of the ring reference sample of bushing (steel 45) at a normal pressure of 1 MPa. The wear resistance of samples increased with an increase in microhardness of hardening tracks.</p>