A method of forming a down-hole tool comprises contacting at least a portion of at least one down-hole structure comprising at least one ceramic-metal composite material with a molten electrolyte comprising sodium tetraborate. Electrical current is applied to at least a portion of the at least one down-hole structure to form at least one borided down-hole structure comprising at least one metal boride material. Other methods of forming a down-hole tool, and a down-hole tool are also described.

A method of forming a downhole tool comprises contacting at least one downhole structure comprising at least one metal material with a molten electrolyte comprising anhydrous sodium tetraborate. Electrical current is applied to at least a portion of the at least one downhole structure to form at least one borided downhole structure comprising at least one metal boride material. Other methods of forming a downhole tool, and a downhole tool are also described.

A method for preparing a boron-containing low-carbon steel oxide film includes performing micro-arc oxidation on boron-containing low-carbon steel in an electrolyte by using the boron-containing low-carbon steel as an anode, to obtain a boron-containing low-carbon steel oxide film. The electrolyte contains sodium meta aluminate of 5 g/L to 25 g/L, sodium dihydrogen phosphate of 2 g/L to 10 g/L, sodium carbonate of 2 g/L to 15 g/L, and glycerol of 2 g/L to 8 g/L. The preparation method provided by the present invention has a simple and controllable process, and the obtained boron-containing low-carbon steel oxide film has a secure bond with the substrate, thus effectively avoiding occurrence of galvanic corrosion.

A method for preparing a boron-containing low-carbon steel oxide film includes performing micro-arc oxidation on boron-containing low-carbon steel in an electrolyte by using the boron-containing low-carbon steel as an anode, to obtain a boron-containing low-carbon steel oxide film. The electrolyte contains sodium meta aluminate of 5 g/L to 25 g/L, sodium dihydrogen phosphate of 2 g/L to 10 g/L, sodium carbonate of 2 g/L to 15 g/L, and glycerol of 2 g/L to 8 g/L. The preparation method provided by the present invention has a simple and controllable process, and the obtained boron-containing low-carbon steel oxide film has a secure bond with the substrate, thus effectively avoiding occurrence of galvanic corrosion.

A method for producing a wear and corrosion resistant WC based material coated with one or more metals selected from group IVB, VB and VIB metals (according to CAS system) and Al is disclosed. The method comprises treating of said coated structure with electrochemical boriding treatment in an electrolyte which is substantially free of halogenated compounds wherein the electrolyte comprises alkali carbonates and boron sources and said electrolyte being heated during electrolysis under an induction heating regime having electromagnetic frequency ranging from 50 to 300 kHz during electrolysis.

This disclosure provides systems and methods for improved electro-enhancement of surfaces of workpieces. The systems and methods can include immersing a metal workpiece in a salt bath and applying a time-varying electric current that has periods of high current with periods of lower current between. The systems and methods provide borided metal workpieces that contain preferred borides on the surface and lack less preferred borides. For example, the systems and methods can provide borided steel having Fe.sub.2B and substantially lacking FeB on the surface.

This disclosure provides systems and methods for improved electro-enhancement of surfaces of workpieces. The systems and methods can include immersing a metal workpiece in a salt bath and applying a time-varying electric current that has periods of high current with periods of lower current between. The systems and methods provide borided metal workpieces that contain preferred borides on the surface and lack less preferred borides. For example, the systems and methods can provide borided steel having Fe.sub.2B and substantially lacking FeB on the surface.

An article of manufacture and method of forming a borided material. An electrochemical cell is used to process a substrate to deposit a plurality of borided layers on the substrate. The plurality of layers are co-deposited such that a refractory metal boride layer is disposed on a substrate and a rare earth metal boride conforming layer is disposed on the refractory metal boride layer.