Strengthening mechanisms in electrodeposited Ni–P alloys with nanocrystalline grains

Results are presented showing that a significant strengthening by annealing for electrodeposited Ni–P alloys with low phosphorus contents and nanocrystalline grains is not induced by the precipitation of Ni3P. Instead, the strengthening is a result of the relaxation at non-equilibrium grain boundaries, a segregation of phosphorus in the grain boundaries and possibly a reduction of defect density in the grain interiors upon annealing.