The effect of quenching on the amount of retained austenite, its stability and ability to deformation martensitic transformation has been studied over a wide temperature range. The hardening and wear resistance of 150 ХНМЛ steel were studied in the process of abrasive wear. The dependence of the hardness and wear resistance of steels on the hardening temperature is described by curves with the opposite trend. This is due to a change in the amount, composition of retained austenite and its deformation stability. An increase in the relative wear resistance of steel with an increase in the hardening temperature is interrelated with the microhardness of the working surface after wear. Microhardness depends on the amount of the formed nanocrystalline deformation martensite. The formation of the secondary structure of the working surface of steel during abrasive wear is determined by the combined action of sliding and micro-TWIP, micro-TRIP effects.