Effect of Cr, Cu and Ni metal powders addition on the alloyed layer of aluminum alloy (AC2B) has been investigated with the plasma transferred arc (PTA) overlaying process. The overlaying conditions were 125-200A in plasma arc current, 150mm/min in process speed and 5-20g/min in powder feeding rate. Main results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) It was made clear that formation of thick surface alloyed layer on aluminum alloy is possible by PTA overlaying process. 2) The range of optimum alloying conditions were much wider in case of Cu and Ni powder additions than the case of Cr powder addition judging from the surface appearance and the bead macrostructure. 3) Alloyed layer with Cu showed almost the homogeneous microstructure through the whole layer by eutectic reaction. alloyed layers with Cr and Ni showed needle-like and agglomerated microstructures, the structure of which has compound layer in upper zone of bead by peritectic and eutectic-peritectic reactions, respectively. 4) Microconstituents of the alloyed layer were analyzed as A1+CrA $l_{7}$ eutectics, C $r_{2}$al sub 11/, CrA $l_{4}$, C $r_{4}$A $l_{9}$ and C $r_{5}$A $l_{*}$ 8/ for Cr addition, Al+CuA $l_{2}$(.theta.) eutectics and .theta. for Cu addition, and Al+NiA $l_{3}$ eutectics. NiA $l_{3}$, N $i_{2}$A $l_{3}$ and NiAl for Ni addition. 5) Concerning defect of the alloyed layer, many blow holes were seen in Cr and Ni additions although there was lesser in Cu addition. Residual gas contents in blow hole for Cu and Ni alloyed layer were confirmed as mainly $H_{2}$ and a littie of $N_{2}$ Cracking was observed in compound zone of the alloyed layer in case of Cr and Ni addition but not in Cu alloyed layer.r.r.