AbstractUnder sliding friction, nickel (0.3–4.2 wt.%) alloyed with chromium steel (1.2 wt.% carbon; 15 wt.% chromium) exerts a fundamental influence upon the initial structure of the steel and the phase composition and structure of the near‐surface friction layers. The minimum wear of the steel occurs when there is a dynamic equilibrium between the dislocation densities in the α‐ and γ‐phases and a ratio between the γ‐ and α‐phases of 50:50 for steels after quenching and 25:75 for steels after tempering in the near‐surfac