Boriding

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Hardening the surface of steel or another metal by diffusing boron into it to form hard boride compounds
2. A thermochemical treatment that enriches a metal's outer layer with boron to increase its wear and corrosion resistance
3. The process of infusing boron into the surface of a metal part so that it becomes much harder and more durable

Etymology: Boriding is a technical coinage built from two familiar parts: "boride," a compound of boron with a more electropositive element, and the suffix "-ing," which turns the noun into a process name. Together they name the treatment in which a metal part is heated in contact with boron-bearing material so that boron diffuses into its surface and forms hard boride compounds there. The result is a thin, extremely hard outer layer over a tougher core, which is why the process is used on tools, dies and wear-prone machine parts. The word therefore describes an industrial action rather than a thing or a quality. Its meaning comes entirely from the chemistry of the boride it produces, so anyone who knows what a boride is can read the word straight off its parts.