Method of improving the tribological and erosive wear resistance of yankee dryer drums including coating the drum with an iron alloy containing from about 20 to about 47 weight per cent chromium, about 2.5 to about 6.5 weight per cent boron, about 1.7 to about 2.7 weight per cent silicon, and less than about 8 weight per cent molybdenum. The coated yankee dryer drum is long wearing based on the hardness of the coating and smooth wearing as the coating has a consistent composition through its depth at the outset and over time.