Durability influence depending on the thickness and microhardness of AlTiN and TiN thin layers deposed on cutting inserts

During the exploitation process of cutting tools occurs phenomens as wear which leads to deterioration of functional parameters, performance and partial or total loss of the functioning capacity. The wear resistance of cutting tools depends by the nature of the material and by the working conditions (the quality of surface processing, lubrication quality, temperature). For increased the durability of cutting tools and increase the wear resistance are taken action which aim, improving the surface quality. For increase the surfaces quality are known different deposit methods in vacuum of materials by coating technology PVD as: aluminum-titanium nitride (AlTiN) and titanium nitride (TiN). The coatings realized by vacuum deposition have gained special attention because of their unique physical and chemical properties for example excellent resistance to oxidation at high temperatures. The most important characteristics which are checked in the deposition process of thin layers are: thickness and microhardness. The thickness and microhardness influence significantly the cutting tool durability. In this paper the authors carried out researches regarding the coatings of AlTiN and TiN in thin layers, on surface of some cutting inserts. It was studied the durability influence depending on the thickness and microhardness of AlTiN and TiN thin layers. (paper)