Investigation of the Microstructure, Mechanical, and Wear Characteristics of the Boronized Layer on IN718 Alloy Treated Under Aging Conditions

, with a concurrent significant increase in the yield strength of the bulk specimen. When sliding against a 440C steel counterface, the specific wear rate of the boronized sample was reduced by a factor of 49, and the friction coefficient decreased to 70% of that of the substrate. The dominant wear mechanism shifted from adhesive, abrasive, and oxidative wear for the untreated IN718 to abrasive and oxidative wear for the boronized specimen.