A method for providing a wear-resistant component includes depositing an
aluminum coating on a steel component to provide an aluminum-coated steel component, and subjecting the aluminum-coated steel component to a
plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process. The PEO process converts a surface portion of the
aluminum coating to
alumina. A wear-resistant component includes a steel component and a wear-resistant
coating on the steel component. The wear-resistant
coating includes an
alumina surface portion and an underlying portion of either aluminum or aluminum and
nickel combination or
nickel aluminide that contacts the steel component.