CRYSTALLINE PHASES AND HARDNESS OF (Ti$_{1-x}$Al$_{x}$)N COATINGS DEPOSITED BY REACTIVE SPUTTERING

(Ti1-xAlx)N films were deposited on high speed steel and silicon substrates by reactive sputtering in mixed $Ar-N_2$ discharges. Crystalline phases and microhardness of ($Ti_1_xAl_x$)N films were investigated with variation of the film composition and substrate RF bias voltage. With Al content x of about 0.6, crystalline phase of ( $Ti_1_xAl_x$N films was changed from single-phase NaCl structure to two phase mixture of NaCl and wurtzite structures: Microhardness of ($Ti_1_xAl_x$)N films was largely improved by applying RF bias voltage above 50 V during deposition. Hardness of ($Ti_1_xAl_x$)N films reached a maximum value for Al content x of about 0.4, and 1900 kg/$mm^2$ was obtained for 1$\mu m$-thick ($Ti_{0.6}Al_{0.4}$)N films.