US Patent 7632323 Reducing abrasive wear in abrasion resistant coatings

An abrasion resistant coating and method are provided wherein the abrasion resistant coating contains both ductile and brittle components. The abrasion resistant coating is initially applied to a substrate and is further conditioned such that the wear which occurs at the interface of the abrasion resistant coating and the abrasive environment is ductile wear, as opposed to brittle wear, such that the wear which occurs at said interface is minimized and the service life of the abrasion resistant coating extended.