Nanotechnology enhances hardness through several mechanisms: 1. Grain Size Reduction: Nanocrystalline materials have grains in the nanometer range, which increases the number of grain boundaries. These boundaries act as barriers to dislocation motion, thereby increasing hardness. 2. Surface Coatings: Nanocoatings often exhibit higher hardness due to their fine microstructure and the incorporation of hard nanoparticles. 3. Composite Materials: By embedding hard nanoparticles into a softer matrix, nanocomposites achieve a balance of hardness and toughness.
