Structural and scale levels of deformation of the surface layer of nickel

The mechanisms of destruction of the surface layer of nickel during tribo-loading in a lubricating medium TsIATIM-201 are investigated. The structural-scale levels of deformation of the surface nickel layer were revealed. The evolution of structural-scale levels of deformation of the surface layer of nickel, leading to its phase instability, is shown. The dominant role and the initial role of the nanostructured scale level of deformation are established. The mechanisms of formation of defect structures of various scales are determined.