Deformed metals and alloys with a structural scale from 5 nm to 100 nm

The processing, structure and properties of deformed metals and alloys with a structural scale from the micrometer to the nanometer dimensions has been the subject of a recent viewpoint set [1]. The present paper will focus on deformed metals and alloys with a structural scale from 5 nm to 100 nm, concentrating on materials processed by high pressure torsion (HPT), surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) and sliding. A detailed microstructural characterization has been followed by an analysis of the relationship between structural features and processing parameters. In this analysis, some general approaches have been applied for example scaling of the evolution of the boundary spacing. This analysis is the basis for a brief discussion of the relationship between the microstructural parameters and the strength.