Tribological behaviors of a borate of triethanolamine in water solution were evaluated using a four-ball wear tester. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to study tribochemical species on worn scars of steel balls. Results show that a thick deposit layer was produced on the worn scars, which came from the decomposition of the borate. The surface film on the worn scars was mostly consisted with H$_3$BO$_3$, B$_2$O$_3$and large amounts of ferricyanides.