the invention is directed to nodular nickel boran coating having lubricating properties . nodular and columnar boron coatings made by the above methods disclosed in the above patents have a low coefficient of friction . the above process results in a columnar structure with nodules in the surface layer . nodules can be produced in other nickel coatings by blasting the surface with hard particles to form the nodules . using blasting to form the nodules produces an inferior coating in contrast to the electroless nickel boron coatings having a columnar structure .