Abstract: The invention relates to a wear protection layer for tools such as milling cutters, cutting inserts, injection molds and the like, in particular wear protection layers deposited using physical vapor deposition, said layers having the general composition AlNbX, where X stands for N, C, B, CN, BN, CBN, NO, CO, BO, CNO, BNO, or CNCO, characterized in that the Nb fraction is less than 40 at % and/or the aluminum powder used in the manufacturing process is mixed with 10 to 50 at % zirconium relative to the aluminum, and also relates to a method for manufacturing a wear protection layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for using a target for a coating process of metal oxide and/or metal nitride coatings by means of spark evaporation, wherein the target can be operated at a temperature that is higher than the melting point of the metal used in the target, and wherein the target is comprised of a metal whose oxides and/or nitrides are not electrically conducting. The invention further relates to the use of a target for producing metal oxide coatings and/or metal nitride coatings by means of spark evaporation, wherein the target has a matrix comprised of a metal, in which matrix non electrically conducting oxides and/or nitrides of the metal are embedded.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optimized hard coating and a workpiece, especially a cutting tool coated with a hard coating to increase tooling performance with difficult to machine materials such as high speed steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, austenitic steels and especially hard materials like hardened tool steel having a hardness of higher 50, preferably of higher 55 HRC. This is achieved by a workpiece coated with a wear resistant multilayered comprising at least a first supporting layer and a second nanocrystalline layer, whereas the first layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (TiaAl1-a)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.4<a<0.6, and 0?x and y<0.3, or (AlbCr1-b)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.5<b<0.7, and 0?x and y<0.3. The second layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (Al1-c-d-eCrcSidMe)N1-x-yCxOy whereas M stands for at least one element of the transition metals of group 4, 5, 6 of the periodic system except Chromium and 0.2<c?0.35, 0<d?0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optimized hard coating and a workpiece, especially a cutting tool coated with a hard coating to increase tooling performance with difficult to machine materials such as high speed steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, austenitic steels and especially hard materials like hardened tool steel having a hardness of higher 50, preferably of higher 55 HRC. This is achieved by a workpiece coated with a wear resistant multilayered comprising at least a first supporting layer and a second nanocrystalline layer, whereas the first layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (TiaAl1-a)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.4<a<0.6, and 0?x and y<0.3, or (AlbCr1-b)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.5<b<0.7, and 0?x and y<0.3. The second layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (Al1-c-d-eCrcSidMe)N1-x-yCxOy whereas M stands for at least one element of the transition metals of group 4, 5, 6 of the periodic system except Chromium and 0.2<c?0.35, 0<d?0.

Abstract: The coating system comprises: at least one layer of type A, a layer of type A substantially consisting of (AlyCr1-y)X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO and CNBO, y describing the stoichiometric composition of the metallic phase fraction; and at least one layer of type B, a layer of type B substantially consisting of (AluCr1-u-v-wSivMew)X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO or CNBO, and wherein Me depicts one of the group consisting of W, Nb, Mo and Ta or a mixture of two or more of the constituents of that group, u, v and w describing the stoichiometric composition of the metallic phase fraction. A thickness ratio of said layer of type A to said layer of type B is higher than 1. The workpiece comprises such a coating system. Through this, an excellent wear-protection is provided, and the coating system and workpieces can be used for a broad range of different applications.

Abstract: A workpiece has a body (3) and a wear-resistant hard coating system(HLo), which system comprises a layer of the following composition: (Al1-a-b-cCraBbZc)X where X is at least one of: N, C, CN, NO, CO, CNO; Z is at least one of: W, Mo, Ta, Cb (Nb). For a, b and c specific ranges of values are valid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optimized hard coating and a workpiece, especially a cutting tool coated with a hard coating to increase tooling performance with difficult to machine materials such as high speed steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, austenitic steels and especially hard materials like hardened tool steel having a hardness of higher 50, preferably of higher 55 HRC. This is achieved by a workpiece coated with a wear resistant multilayered comprising at least a first supporting layer and a second nanocrystalline layer, whereas the first layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (TiaAl1-a)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.4<a<0.6, and 0?x and y<0.3, or (AlbCr1-b)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.5<b<0.7, and 0?x and y<0.3. The second layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (Al1-c-d-eCrcSidMe)N1-x-yCxOy whereas M stands for at least one element of the transition metals of group 4, 5, 6 of the periodic system except Chromium and 0.2<c?0.35, 0<d?0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optimized hard coating and a workpiece, especially a cutting tool coated with a hard coating to increase tooling performance with difficult to machine materials such as high speed steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, austenitic steels and especially hard materials like hardened tool steel having a hardness of higher 50, preferably of higher 55 HRC. This is achieved by a workpiece coated with a wear resistant multilayered comprising at least a first supporting layer and a second nanocrystalline layer, whereas the first layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (TiaAl1-a)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.4<a<0.6, and 0?x and y<0.3, or (AlbCr1-b)N1-x-yCxOy with 0.5<b<0.7, and 0?x and y<0.3. The second layer comprises a coating material of the following composition (Al1-c-d-eCrcSidMe)N1-x-yCxOy whereas M stands for at least one element of the transition metals of group 4, 5, 6 of the periodic system except Chromium and 0.2<c?0.35, 0<d?0.