Modern coatings in high performance cutting applications

Modern, state-of-the-art, PVD coatings are required to fulfill a variety of different applications. Each metal cutting operation requires an optimal combination of various film parameters to achieve a high end cutting performance. Especially, Al-based coatings such as AlTiN- and AlCrN-coatings show very good results in high performance metal cutting applications.Wear resistance, thermal stability such as oxidation resistance and hardness at elevated temperatures are key issues within these cutting operations. In this paper the influence of these properties on Al-based nitride coatings in relation to metal cutting tests such as milling and drilling will be discussed.