The presence of a dislocation structure associated with low-angle dislocation boundaries and interior dislocations was a common and characteristic feature in nanostructured metals produced by plastic deformation, and played an important role in determining both the strength and ductility of the nanostructured metals. The dislocation structure could be modified by post-process annealing and deformation which points to new ways of optimizing the mechanical properties. Such ways were demonstrated and discussed.

Tailoring Dislocation Structures and Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Metals Produced by Plastic Deformation. X.Huang: Scripta Materialia, 2009, 60[12], 1078-82