Dense　compact　boride　layer　was　developed　on　the　Inconel　718　alloy　by　powder　pack-boriding　process.　The　microstructure　and　load-dependent　wear　characteristics　of　the　boride　layers　were　systematically　investigated.　It　is　found　that　the　boride　layer　on　Inconel　718　alloy　consists　of　a　∼2.0　μm　thick　nickel-rich　top　layer,　a　∼11.3　μm　thick　compound　layer　with　nanocrystalline　(Ni,Fe)23B6　and　(Cr,Fe)B　grains,　and　a　∼10.9　μm　thick　diffusion　layer　with　dendritic　Cr2B　precipitation　within　the　matrix.　The　phase　evolution　of　the　boronizing　layer　are　explainable　by　thermodynamic　modeling　of　Ni-Cr-B　system　and　the　phase　stability　for　metastable　Ni-B　compounds　is　confirmed　by　DFT　simulation.　The　boride　layer　on　Inconel　718　alloy　displays　good　wear　resistance　against　Si3N4　ceramic　balls　both　at　room　temperature　and　500　℃.　Specifically,　the　wear　rate　at　room　temperature　is　in　the　order　of　10-6　mm3·N-1　m-1　and　the　wear　mechanism　is　combined　adhesive/abrasive　wear　and　oxidation　wear.　A　higher　loading　is　found　to　promote　the　formation　of　boron　oxide　tribolayer　on　the　friction　ball　surface,　which　mitigates　the　wear　loss　effectively.　At　elevated　temperature,　the　wear　rate　is　in　the　order　of　10-4　mm3·N-1　m-1　and　the　wear　mechanism　is　severe　abrasion　wear　and　oxidative　wear.　The　employment　of　higher　loads　is　beneficial　to　suppressing　the　formation　of　nickel　oxide　debris,　which　participates　the　friction　process　as　third　body　and　enhances　wear　loss.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd