Abstract: Composite materials comprising a hard ceramic phase and an infiltration alloy are disclosed. The hard ceramic phase may comprise a carbide such as tungsten carbide and/or cast carbide. The infiltration alloy is Cu-based and comprises Ni and Sn. The infiltration alloy may further include Nb, and may be substantially free of Mn. The composite material may be heat treated in order to improve its mechanical properties. For example, the composition of the Cu—Ni—Sn infiltration alloy may be selected such that its hardness, wear resistance, toughness and/or transverse rupture strength are improved after the composite material is solutioned and aged at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A coated cutting insert for removing material from a workpiece that includes a substrate is disclosed. A wear-resistant coating on the substrate that includes an ?-alumina layer and a Zr— or Hf— carbonitride outer layer deposited on the ?-alumina layer. The Zr— or Hf— carbonitride outer layer is subjected to a post-coat wet blasting treatment. The wet blasting changes the stress condition of the exposed alumina coating layer from an initial tensile stress condition to a compressive stress condition.

Abstract: Hard coatings and methods of making the hard coatings comprising aluminum titanium nitride which are usable on cutting tools are disclosed. The coatings include at least one aluminum titanium nitride layer having between about 0 and about 15 weight percent hexagonal phase and a composition of (AlxTi1-x)N, where x is in the range of about 0.53 to about 0.58 moles.

Abstract: A method of making a coated body wherein the method includes the following sequential steps. First, providing a substrate Second, applying by chemical vapor deposition a titanium carbonitride coating layer that has a thickness equal to between about 0.5 micrometers and about 25 micrometers Third, applying by chemical vapor deposition a first titanium/aluminum-containing coating layer that has a thickness between a greater than zero micrometers and about 5 micrometers. Fourth, applying by chemical vapor deposition an alumina coating layer that has a thickness between greater than zero micrometers and about 5 micrometers. The first titanium-containing coating layer and the alumina coating layer makes up a coating sequence, and the method includes applying a plurality of the coating sequences by CVD.