The present invention relates to a method for producing a multilayer film comprising aluminum, chromium, oxygen and nitrogen, in a vacuum coating chamber, the multilayer film comprising layers of type A and layers of type B deposited alternate one of each other, wherein during deposition of the multilayer film at least one target comprising aluminum and chromium is operated as cathode by means of a PVD technique and used in this manner as material source for supplying aluminum and chromium, and an oxygen gas flow and a nitrogen gas flow are introduced as reactive gases in the vacuum chamber for reacting with aluminum and chromium, thereby supplying oxygen and nitrogen for forming the multilayer film, characterized in that: —The A layers are deposited as oxynitride layers of Al—Cr—O—N by using nitrogen and oxygen as reactive gas at the same time, —The B layers are deposited as nitride layers of Al—Cr—N by reducing the oxygen gas flow and by increasing the nitrogen gas flow in order to use only nitrogen as reactive gas for the formation of the Al—Cr—N layer, and wherein the relation between oxygen content and nitrogen content in the multilayer film correspond to a ratio in atomic percentage having a value between and including 1.8 and 4.

Methods for producing layered nanocarbon structures placing a workpiece in a working chamber, applying a vacuum to the chamber, processing the workpiece surface with gas ions, applying a material sublayer to the workpiece surface, depositing carbon ions from a carbon plasma on the workpiece surface to apply an amorphous diamond-like sp3 carbon coating layer on the workpiece surface. The methods include irradiating the growing carbon coating with accelerated ions of an inert gas at a first energy range to apply a graphite sp2 carbon coating layer on the sp3 carbon coating layer and irradiating the growing carbon coating with accelerated ions of the inert gas at a second energy range, different from the first energy range, to apply a linear chain and polymer sp1 carbon coating layer on the sp2 carbon coating layer.

A method for producing an Al—Cr—O-based coating on a workpiece surface, including: a) placing a workpiece in an interior of a vacuum chamber, and b) depositing a film comprising aluminum and chromium on the workpiece surface to be coated, wherein a ratio of aluminum to chromium in the film in atomic percentage has a first value corresponding to Al/Cr≤2.3, and c) forming volatile compounds of Cr—O, thereby causing at least part of the chromium contained in the film to leave the film in a form of Cr—O volatile compounds, and d) executing step c) during a period of time, within which the chromium content in the film is reduced until attaining a second value of the ratio of aluminum to chromium in the film in atomic percentage corresponding to Al/Cr≥3.5, thereby the film is transformed into a film containing a reduced content of chromium.

Provided is a coated cutting tool having improved wear resistance and fracture resistance and a prolonged tool life. The coated cutting tool includes a substrate and a coating layer formed on the substrate. The coating layer includes a first layer containing Ti(C.sub.x1N.sub.1-x1) and a second layer containing (Ti.sub.1-y1Al.sub.y1)N, particles in the first layer have an average particle size of 5 nm or more and less than 100 nm, 1.0≤I(111)/I(200)≤20.0 in the first layer, the first layer has an average thickness of 5 nm or more and 1.0 μm or less, 0.1≤I(111)/I(200)≤1.0 in the second layer, particles in the second layer have an average particle size of more than 100 nm and 300 nm or less, and the second layer has an average thickness of 5 nm or more and 2.0 μm or less.

To provide a sliding member, such as a piston ring for an internal combustion engine, having low friction and excellent toughness. The above-described problem is solved by a sliding member (10) such as a piston ring coated with a Cr—B—Ti—V—(Mn, Mo)—N-based alloy film (2) on a sliding surface (11) thereof, and configured so that the alloy film (2) contains one or both of Mn and Mo and has a total content of the Mn and the Mo within a range of 2 mass % or less. Preferably, a B content is within a range of 0.1 mass % to 1.5 mass %, inclusive, a V content is within a range of 0.05 mass % to 1 mass %, inclusive, and a Ti content is within a range of 0.05 mass % to 1.5 mass %, inclusive.

A bioactive coated substrate includes a base substrate, a first interlayer disposed over the base substrate, an outermost bioactive layer disposed on the first interlayer, and a topcoat layer disposed on the outermost bioactive layer. Characteristically, a plurality of microscopic openings extending through the topcoat layer and the outermost bioactive layer expose the first interlayer and the outermost bioactive layer. A method for forming the bioactive coated substrate is also provided.

A surface-coated cutting tool includes: a substrate including a rake face and a flank face; a first coating film that coats the rake face; and a second coating film that coats the flank face, wherein the first coating film includes a first composite nitride layer at a region d1 on the rake face, the second coating film includes a second composite nitride layer at a region d2 on the flank face, the first composite nitride layer includes Ti.sub.1-x1-y1Al.sub.x1Ta.sub.y1C.sub.α1N.sub.β1, the second composite nitride layer includes Ti.sub.1-x2-y2Al.sub.x2Ta.sub.y2C.sub.α2N.sub.β2.

The coated cutting tool comprises a substrate and a coating layer formed on a surface of the substrate, the coating layer comprises an alternating laminate structure in which two or more first layers and two or more second layers are alternately laminated, the first layer is a compound layer containing Ti(C.sub.aN.sub.1-a), the second layer is a compound layer containing (Ti.sub.xAl.sub.1-x)(C.sub.yN.sub.1-y), an average thickness per layer of each of the first layers and the second layers in the alternating laminate structure is 3 nm or more and 300 nm or less, and an average thickness of the alternating laminate structure is 1.0 μm or more and 8.0 μm or less.

To provide a sliding member comprising a coating film exhibiting constant and stable chipping resistance and wear resistance and excellent in peeling resistance (adhesion), and the coating film thereof. The above-described problem is solved by a sliding member (10) comprising a coating film (1) on a sliding surface (16) on a base material (11). The coating film (1) has, when a cross section thereof is observed by a bright-field TEM image, a total thickness within a range of 1 μm to 50 μm, in repeating units including black hard carbon layers (B), relatively shown in black, and white hard carbon layers (W), relatively shown in white, and laminated in a thickness direction (Y). In the black hard carbon layer (B) and the white hard carbon layer (W) adjacent to each other, the white hard carbon layer (W) has higher hardness and a larger [sp.sup.2/(sp.sup.2+sp.sup.3)] ratio than the black hard carbon layer (B).

A brake disk including carbon steel, stainless steel or a ceramic composite material and coated with a coating material that is wear and corrosion resistant and when applied properly allows for the coated surface to have a variety of “textured” appearances. For example, the coated surface can be made to look like woven carbon fiber. The aesthetically pleasing, wear and corrosion resistant coating overlays wear surfaces and portions of the brake disk that will be, in many cases, visible when the brake disk is installed on the vehicle. The coating includes a first layer of a metal, such as a pure titanium metal, and a second layer that can include a Nitride, Boride, Carbide or Oxide of the metal used in the first layer. The coating can be applied using a physical vapor deposition source such as a cathodic arc source with a controlled gas atmosphere.