Coating system, coated workpiece and method for manufacturing the same

1. A coating system, comprising

at least one layer of type A, the layer of type A consisting essentially of (Al y Cr 1-y )X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO and CNBO, y describing a stoichiometric composition of a metallic phase fraction; and

at least one layer of type B, the layer of type B consisting essentially of (Al u Cr 1-u-v-w Si v Me w )X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO and 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 a stoichiometric composition of a metallic phase fraction;

wherein a thickness ratio of said layer of type A to said layer of type B is higher than 1, and

wherein 0<y, u, w, v<1.

2. The coating system according to claim 1 , wherein said thickness ratio is higher than about 1.5.

3. The coating system according to claim 1 , said at least one layer of type B comprising at least two crystalline phases.

4. The coating system according to claim 1 , said at least one layer of type B comprising a cubic phase and a hexagonal phase.

5. The coating system according to claim 4 , wherein a content of said at least one layer of type B of said hexagonal phase is <50% by volume of said at least one layer of type B.

6. The coating system according to claim 4 , wherein a content of said at least one layer of type B of said hexagonal phase is >5% by volume of said at least one layer of type B and <40% by volume of said at least one layer of type B.

7. The coating system according to claim 1 , said at least one layer of type A substantially being of cubic structure.

8. The coating system according to claim 1 , wherein 0.5<y<0.7.

9. The coating system according to claim 1 , wherein 0.5<u<0.7,0.01<v<0.15, and 0.002<w<0.1.

10. The coating system according to claim 9 , wherein w<0.05.

11. The coating system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one layer of type B is deposited directly onto said at least one layer of type A.

12. The coating system according to claim 1 , comprising one layer of type B sandwiched between a first layer of type A and a second layer of type A.

13. The coating system according to claim 1 , comprising multiple layer periods, wherein one such layer period is formed by one layer of type A and one layer of type B.

14. A workpiece, comprising a coating system according to claim 1 .

15. The workpiece according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece is at least one of the group consisting of

a machining tool;

a milling tool;

a cutting tool;

a turning tool;

a tapping tool;

a threading tool;

a reamer;

an end mill;

a drill;

a cutting insert;

a hob;

a clearing tool; and

an insert for turning and milling.

16. The workpiece according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece is one or more of the group consisting of a tool, a reamer, an end mill, a drill, a cutting insert, a hob, and an insert for turning and milling.

17. The workpiece according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece is one or more of the group consisting of a machining tool, a milling tool, a turning tool, a tapping tool, a threading tool, a reamer, an end mill, a drill, a cutting insert, a gear cutting tool, a hob, a clearing tool, and an insert for turning and milling.

18. The workpiece according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece is one or more of the group consisting of a machining tool, a milling tool, a turning tool, a tapping tool, a threading tool, a reamer, an end mill, a drill, a cutting insert, a gear cutting tool, an insert, a hob, and a clearing tool.

19. The workpiece according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece has a body substantially made of one or more of the group consisting of a ferrous metal, a non-ferrous metal, a composite material, a cermet, and a cubic boron nitride.

20. The workpiece according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece has a body substantially made of one or more of the group consisting of a non-ferrous metal, a composite material, a cemented carbide, a cubic boron nitride, a ceramic material, and a steel.

21. The workpiece according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece has a body substantially made of one or more of the group consisting of a non-ferrous metal, a composite material, a cemented carbide, a cubic boron nitride, a ceramic material, and a high speed steel.

22. The workpiece according to claim 14 or claim 15 , said workpiece having a body substantially made of at least one of the group consisting of

a ferrous metal;

a non-ferrous metal;

a composite material;

a cemented carbide;

a cubic boron nitride; and

a ceramic material.

23. A method for manufacturing a coated workpiece, comprising the steps of

a) depositing on said workpiece at least one layer of a type A; and

b) depositing on said workpiece at least one layer of a type B different from said type A;

wherein

said at least one layer of a type A is deposited using n x targets of a type X; and

said at least one layer of a type B is deposited using n y targets of a type Y different from said type X and simultaneously using n xy targets of said type X;

wherein n x , n y , and n xy are integers ≧1, and at least one of said targets of said type X is active during both step a) and step b).

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein

a layer of type A consists essentially of (Al y Cr 1-y )X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO and CNBO, y describing a stoichiometric composition of a metallic phase fraction;

a layer of type B consists essentially of (Al u Cr 1-u-v-w Si v Me w ) X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO and 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 a stoichiometric composition of a metallic phase fraction; and

0<y, u, w, v<1.

25. The method according to claim 24 , wherein a thickness ratio of said layer of type A to said layer of type B is higher than 1.

26. The method according to claim 24 , wherein a target of said type X comprises Al and Cr, and a target of type Y comprises Al, Cr, Si and said Me provided in said layer of type B.

27. The method according to claim 23 , wherein steps a) and b) are carried out using a physical vapor deposition process.

28. The method according to claim 27 , wherein steps a) and b) are carried out using a cathodic arc evaporation process.

29. The method according to claim 23 , comprising holding said workpiece at a temperature below approximately 650° C. while carrying out steps a) and b).

30. The method according to claim 29 , comprising holding said workpiece at a temperature at or below approximately 500° C., while carrying out steps a) and b).

31. The method according to claim 23 , comprising exposing said workpiece to a reactive gas atmosphere with a total gas pressure between 0.5 Pa and 10 Pa while carrying out steps a) and b).

32. The method according to claim 31 , comprising exposing said workpiece to a reactive gas atmosphere with a total gas pressure >2 Pa, while carrying out steps a) and b).

33. The method according to claim 31 , said reactive gas atmosphere comprising predominantly N.

34. The method according to claim 23 , comprising applying a bias voltage between 40 V and 200 V to said workpiece while carrying out steps a) and b).

35. The method according to claim 23 , comprising applying a bias voltage to said workpiece while carrying out step a) and applying a higher bias voltage to said workpiece while carrying out step b).