In present paper the effect of the correlation between spectral radiative characteristics of different lasers and absorptive characteristics of laser irradiated two-component elastic semitransparent material upon coupled thermal, diffusive and elastic processes in the layer is examined. Irradiated material is supposed to consist of elastic matrix and gaseous admixture. Investigations are carried out within the model applied early to the study of mentioned coupled processes in the layer subjected to thermal infrared radiation. Calculations were carried out for four different infrared lasers. Peculiarities of heat and admixture mass transfer caused by laser irradiation are established and discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.