Optimization of arc evaporated (Ti,Al)N film composition for cutting tool applications

PHOTOACOUSTIC STUDIES ON TiAlN NANOSTRUCTURED THIN FILMS

“…4 In addition, it is often found that tools coated with TiAlN films provide superior overall performance on materials that are difficult to machine. 5,6 High-resolution transmission electron micrographs of Shieh et al 7 showed that the grain size of Ti 1−x Al x N films prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition decreased to less than 10 nm as the aluminium content in the film increased up to a ratio of Al/(Al + Ti) = 0.63. Further, the hardness measurement shows that the microstructural feature was the most important factor in determining the hardness values of the films.…”

Comparison of (Ti,Al)N and (Ti,Al)N/γ-Al2O3 coatings regarding tribological behavior and machining performance

“…(Ti,Al)N is a very successful example of this group which has been available since the late 1980s [3]. This coating is a further development of TiN and combines good oxidation and corrosion resistance with outstanding mechanical properties in the contact zone at elevated temperatures even in dry cutting operations [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Another successful commercial hard coating is Al 2 O 3 coating deposited by CVD technology, which is produced at temperatures of about 1000°C limiting the choice of substrate.…”

Defect-engineered (Ti,Al)N thin films

“…200 nm/min), a dense structure and good adhesion [2], [6], [70]. Deposition of compound materials (nitrides, oxides, etc.)…”

“…Various applications include TiN thin film diffusion barriers, AlN in electronic semiconductor devices, (Ti,Al)N wear-resistant coatings, high temperature composites like Ti2AlN, Al3Ti, AlN, and TiN enhancing Al-base alloys, TiN embedded in steels preventing grain growth, etc [3], [6], [38], [49].…”

“…Among all available transition metal nitrides (TMNs) on the market, (Ti,Al)N is one of the most extensively investigated and used systems [1]- [3], [6]. It was the addition of Al into TiN which substantially improved its properties at elevated temperatures [7], [8].…”