The　interactions　between　oxidation　and　external　friction　usually　cause　accelerated　failure　of　materials　by　repeated　destruction　of　protective　oxide　layers.　In　this　work,　we　discovered　that　in　a　unique　boride　coating　fabricated　by　thermal　spraying　pre-treated　WB-Co　powder　on　steel,　the　friction-induced　microstructural　defects　at　elevated　temperatures　can　be　self-repaired　by　plastic　flow　and　redistribution　of　nanocrystalline　WO3,　CoWO4　and　molten　B2O3.　Besides,　strong　mechanical　support　from　the　underlying　coating　was　favorable　for　slowing　down　the　oxide　growth.　Based　on　understanding　of　the　oxidation-resistance　mechanisms　of　this　oxide-boride　system,　a　new　strategy　for　developing　highly　anti-oxidative　ceramic-based　materials　is　proposed.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd