Hall–Petch breakdown manifested in abrasive wear resistance of nanocrystalline nickel

The abrasion resistance of electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel is investigated using the nanoscratch technique with a ramping load. At the finest grain sizes studied (12–14 nm), a breakdown in Hall–Petch hardening is observed directly in hardness data, as well as indirectly in scratch resistance. The changes in abrasive wear behavior are quantitatively commensurate with the changes in hardness, despite the apparent transition in deformation mechanisms at the finest grain sizes.