Application of a novel vacuum-arc ion-plating technology for the design of advanced wear resistant coatings

For the design of a new generation of wear resistant coatings a PVD-technology was used, which combines plasma surface treatment and ion-plating methods in a single process. On the basis of an PVD-apparatus with modern modules of plasma-technical equipment it has taken advantage of special plasma-physical effects to improve the microstructure of the thin-film coating systems. Wear resistant complexes were designed according to the principle of the multifunctional structure as multilayered composite coating systems. Dry cutting tests were carried out with various HSS and carbide tools coated by the above plasma-technology. The higher efficiency and reliability of these surface refined cutting tools compared with conventionally coated tools were attributed to the improved microscopic structure of the new wear resistant complexes. First results of the application of this novel technology for combined plasma treatment and coating of a broad field of various tools and machine units will be discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.