Rotary implement having hard metallic layer and method therefor

A rotary machine comprising:

• an actuator;
• a rotary implement operably coupled to the actuator, the rotary implement including a metallic body rotatable around an axis, the metallic body including a tapered leading edge having an interface surface and an opposite, free surface, the metallic body having a first composition, and a metallic layer having a first side surface attached to the interface surface and a free, second side surface opposite from the first side surface, the metallic layer having a second, different composition from the first composition;
• wherein the first composition includes a boron-containing steel composition and a bainitic microstructure;
• and
• wherein the free surface includes a polymer-based layer thereon.

A method for making a rotary implement, the method comprising:

• providing a metallic body including a tapered leading edge having an interface surface and an opposite, free surface, the metallic body having a first composition;
• attaching a metallic layer to the metallic body, the metallic layer including a first side surface that is attached to the interface surface and a free, second side surface opposite from the first side surface, the metallic layer having a second, different composition from the first composition;
• wherein the first composition includes a boron-containing steel composition and a bainitic microstructure;
• and
• wherein the free surface includes a polymer-based layer thereon.