Electroless nickel-boron deposits were synthesized on mild steel and submitted to heat treatments under neutraland nitrogen based atmosphere. The properties obtained after these treatments were compared to as depositednickel-boron coatings. The morphology and structure of the samples were investigated by XRD, SEMand optical microscopy; their composition was studied by ICP, GD-OES and SIMS analysis, and micro andnanoindentation tests were carried out to assess the coatings’ hardness. Scratch tests were used to determinethe damage mechanisms of the coating
