The aim of the research was to define the dependence of the properties of vacuum arc evaporated Ti1-xAlxN [Ti tief 1 - tief x Al tief x N] coatings on the deposition temperature. The coatings were deposited on by a commercial
Metaplas Ionon Maxit MZR-303U coating system. Two different alloys (Böhler trademarks S290 and S390) of high speed steels (HSS) were coated by cathodic arc evaporation of Ti33/Al67 [Ti tief 33 / Al tief 67] targets. Six
different deposition temperatures were applied reaching from 418°C to 520°C. The coating thickness, microhardness and coating adherence was examined. X-ray diffraction experiments, scanning electron and light optical microscopy as well as tribological tests and milling tests were done.
Only at lower deposition temperatures a significant amount of hexagonal phase is present. The increase in deposition temperature causes increased crystallininty with predominant (200) orientation of cubic (Ti,Al)N, increased microhardness and wear resistance and reduced surface roughness and coefficient of friction. At hightemperature tribological testings wear was undetectable due to a suspected formation of a protective oxide layer preventing significant wear.