Mechanical properties and machining performance of Ti1−xAlxN-coated cutting tools

The mechanical properties and machining performance of Ti1−xAlxN-coated cutting tools have been investigated. Processing by arc evaporation using cathodes with a range of compositions was performed to obtain coatings with compositions x=0, x=0.25, x=0.33, x=0.50, x=0.66 and x=0.74. As-deposited coatings with x≤0.66 had metastable cubic structures, whereas x=0.74 yielded two-phase coatings consisting of cubic and hexagonal structures. The as-deposited and isothermally annealed coatings were characterised by nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Cutting tests revealing tool wear mechanisms were also performed. Results show that the Al content, x, promotes a (200) preferred crystallographic orientation and has a large influence on the hardness of as-deposited coatings. The high hardness (∼37 GPa) and texture of the as-deposited Ti1−xAlxN coatings are retained for annealing temperatures up to 950 °C, which indicates a superior stability of this system compared to TiN and Ti(C,N) coatings. We propose that competing mechanisms are responsible for the effectively constant hardness: softening by residual stress relaxation through lattice defect annihilation is balanced by hardening from formation of a coherent nanocomposite structure of c-TiN and c-AlN domains by spinodal decomposition. This example of secondary-phase transformation (age-) hardening is proposed as a new route for advanced surface engineering, and for the development of future generation hard coatings.