Bulk nanocrystalline has been produced in the surface of a tempered reduced activation ferrite/martensite (RAFM) steel by means of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT), the grain size decreases gradually from the strain-free matrix to the treated surface with the increase of deformation strains. Both XRD and SEM results indicate the dissolving or refinement of carbides during SMAT. The nanocrystalline has excellent thermal stability when annealing at 823 K; the average grain sizes calculated from statistical analysis of the TEM images after annealing for 5 min, 30 min, 120 min and 240 min are 67.6 nm, 87.1 nm, 93.8 nm and 109.6 nm, respectively. Because of the large volume fraction of grain boundaries (GBs) and enhanced diffusion rates in the nanocrystalline (NC) steels, fast grain growth and small precipitated carbides are observed after annealing for 5 min at 823 K, while the existence of numerous second-phase particles hinders grain growth after annealing for longer times. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.