Copper-coated mild steel specimens were irradiated with a high power excimer laser. Mild steel was first coated with a thin nickel coating. Laser-induced surface structures were observed by means of optical microscopy. The surface roughness was observed to be dependent on the number of pulses per step. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed that nickel and iron atoms diffused into the copper coating. The microhardness of the copper coating was found to increase after laser treatment due to solid solution strengthening from iron and nickel atoms.