Effects of pulsed bias duty ratio on microstructure and mechanical properties of TiN/TiAlN multilayer coatings

► TiN/TiAlN multilayer coatings with excellent mechanical and tribological properties were deposited by arc ion plating method. ► The phase of TiN/TiAlN multilayer coatings exhibited preferred orientation along (1 1 1) plane with the increase duty ratio of pulsed bias. ► The surface morphologies were strongly influenced by duty ratio and the multilayer structure was clearer and denser with the increase duty ratio of pulsed bias. ► The TiN/TiAlN multilayer coatings showed higher hardness at 20% duty ratio of pulsed bias and excellent tribological properties at 50% duty ratio of pulsed bias.