Patent ID: 8012274

Claim:
A method for preparing a wear-resistant object selected from a surgical instrument, an orthopedic object, an implantable device, a dental object, an automotive object, a cutting object, a tool, a fastener, farm equipment, sporting equipment a jet engine part, a wear resistant mechanical part, or nautical equipment, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the object comprises a material that is borided, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing KBX 4 , wherein each X is halogen; (b) heating the KBX 4 at a temperature sufficient to release BX 3 ; and (c) applying a plasma charge to the BX 3 to create one or more activated boron species for diffusing into the material surface, wherein: the KBX 4 is in the presence of the metal surface in a single reaction vessel such that both thermal decomposition of the KBX 4 and plasma treatment of the metal surface occur in separate areas of the reaction vessel; or thermal decomposition of the KBX 4 occurs in a separate decomposition chamber connected to a reaction vessel containing the metal surface for plasma treatment of the metal surface.