Metal alloy surface modification methods and related metal alloy products with improved bond durability

An aluminum alloy product, comprising:

• a rolled aluminum alloy substrate, the rolled aluminum alloy substrate comprising:
• a bulk, wherein the bulk comprises intermetallic particles and a matrix including grains of an aluminum alloy;
• a laser-and-liquid-treated area covering a first portion of the bulk, wherein the laser-and-liquid-treated area comprises:
• a treated sub-surface layer, wherein the treated sub-surface layer comprises a resolidified layer of the aluminum alloy having been previously melted by a beam of high energy, wherein the treated sub-surface layer occupies a depth into the aluminum alloy product of from 1 μm to 10 μm, and wherein a first concentration of intermetallic particles in the treated sub-surface layer is less than a second concentration of intermetallic particles in the bulk;
• and
• a laser and liquid processed surface layer, wherein the laser and liquid processed surface layer is substantially devoid of near surface microstructures and one or more of organics, oils, hydrocarbons, soils, inorganic residues, rolled-in oxides, or anodic oxides, and wherein the laser and liquid processed surface layer comprises a first oxide layer having a thickness of from 10 nm to 300 nm.