The　hardness,　elastic　modulus　and　scratch　behaviors　of　Ag/Ni　mulitlayers　deposited　by　evaporation　have　been　carried　out　by　nanoindentation　and　nanoscratch.　It　has　been　found　that　the　hardness　(H)　increases,　while　the　modulus　(E)　decreases,　that　is　to　say　an　increase　of　H/E　as　the　periodicity　decreases.　Many　mechanisms　are　included　in　nanoscratch,　including　initial　elastic　contact,　plowing　and　fracture　stage,　in　each　multilayer.　Coefficient　of　friction　during　plowing　decreases　with　the　decrease　of　the　periodicity,　which　can　be　ascribed　to　decreasing　material　pile-up　due　to　the　increase　of　H/E.　Elastic　recovery　after　scratching　also　increases　as　the　periodicity　decreases　because　of　the　increase　of　H/E,　which　leads　to　improved　wear　resistance.　The　fracture　stage　will　be　postponed　with　decreasing　periodicity,　which　also　leads　to　better　wear　behavior.　(C)　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.