Factors affecting reliability and performance are the main concerns when dealing with micro-systemrncomponents / devices with continuously shrinking external dimensions. In particular,rnmicrostructural non-uniformities leading to materials property variations across the microcom-ponentrnhave presented major challenges. However, recent developments in the field of electro-platedrnnanocrystalline materials can offer an avenue to address many of these technical difficul-ties.rnIn this paper, the deficiencies of metallic microsystem components currently in use are ad-dressed,rnfollowed by a comparison which shows how nano-electroplated microcomponents canrnalleviate these problems. Materials properties enhancements that are achievable as a result ofrnhaving nanostructured microcomponents will be discussed. The effects of grain size reductionrnon several specific performance indicators such as elastic energy storage capacity and wear resis-tancernwill be examined.
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