Dry sliding tribological properties of nanostructured copper subjected to dynamic plastic deformation

► Bulk DPD Cu with nano-scale twin bundles embedded in nano-sized grains. ► DPD Cu exhibits an enhanced wear resistance relative to coarse-grained Cu. ► Worn subsurface structure shows a vortex zone within an ultrafine grain layer. ► Plastic deformation induced grain refinement plays an important role in CG Cu. ► DPD Cu involves dynamic recrystallization and subsequent plastic deformation.