A structural component suitable for use as refinery and/or petrochemical process equipment and piping is provided. The structural component has improved corrosion, abrasion, environmental degradation resistance, and fire resistant properties with a substrate coated with a surface-treated amorphous metal layer. The surface of the structural component is surface treated with an energy source to cause a diffusion of at least a portion of the amorphous metal layer and at least a portion of the substrate, forming a diffusion layer disposed on a substrate. The diffusion layer has a negative hardness profile with the hardness increasing from the diffusion surface in contact with the substrate to the surface away from the substrate.