The effect of gauge volume on the tensile properties of nanocrystalline electrodeposits

A disconcerting effect of decreasing tensile strength with increasing gauge volume in nanocrystalline electrodeposits has been previously reported; this effect has been attributed to internal flaws. In the present study the electrosynthesis process was scaled-up to produce Ni–6.3 wt.% Fe (13 nm grain size) dog-bone coupons that were up to three orders of magnitude larger than those typically tested. No significant size effect was observed and the ultimate tensile strength was determined by the plastic instability of the coupons.