Synthesis of titanium carbonitride coating layers with star-shaped crystallite morphology

► Ti(C,N) coating layers with star-shaped crystallites produced by modified CVD. ► 5-fold symmetry retained to produce large star-shaped particles of 500-600 nm. ► Mismatch in pentagonal structure accommodated by formation of SAG boundary of 6.4°. ► Distortion of the tetrahedra for further elastic stress relaxation of crystallites.