A system for treating material of a cutting element may include a method, and the method may include providing a piece of material to form a blank for the cutting element, and applying a cladding material to at least a portion of the blank utilizing a laser to bond a cladding powder to the exterior surface of the blank. The application may include selecting and utilizing a power level of the laser and a rate of movement of the spot of the laser across the exterior surface which is effective to form a stratum of martensite in the substrate of the material below the exterior surface and the cladding material bonded to the exterior surface. The method may further include removing a portion of the cladded blank to form a cutting edge with a portion of the stratum of martensite exposed at the cutting edge.