Mechanical parts having increased wear-resistance

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 KBX4, wherein each X is halogen;
• (b) heating the KBX4 at a temperature sufficient to release BX3;
• and
• (c) applying a plasma charge to the BX3 to create one or more activated boron species for diffusing into the material surface, wherein:
• the KBX4 is in the presence of the metal surface in a single reaction vessel such that both thermal decomposition of the KBX4 and plasma treatment of the metal surface occur in separate areas of the reaction vessel;
• or
• thermal decomposition of the KBX4 occurs in a separate decomposition chamber connected to a reaction vessel containing the metal surface for plasma treatment of the metal surface.