Monolithic TiN coatings deposited onto cemented carbide cutting tool inserts coated by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods, respectively, were subjected to pulsed intense electron beam treatments in the energy range 3 to 5 Jиcm Ϫ2 . The temperature profiles for this rapid thermal processing (RTP) covered the range between fusion of the cobalt binder in the carbide to surface fusion of the TiN coatings. The treatment caused extensive cracking in all coatings, removed the atomic level defects, vacancies and dislocations, and the residual stress in the PVD coatings, but caused little change in the CVD coatings. There was some nitrogen loss very close to the surface but no change in the stoichiometry of the bulk of the nitride. In contrast, no changes were found in the carbide substrate below the PVD coatings, but microscopic changes were found immediately below the surface in the carbide under the CVD coatings. Steel turning tests suggest that treatment of the PVD coatings at the lowest power used, 3 Jиcm Ϫ2 , reduced the flank wear by a factor of 2 but had no effect on any of the CVD coatings.
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