A coated cutting tool for metal machining has a base body of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, steel or high-speed steel, and a wear resistant coating deposited thereon. The coating includes a layer of Ti.sub.1-xAl.sub.xC.sub.yN.sub.z with 0.40≤x≤0.95, 0≤y≤0.10 and 0.85≤z≤1.15, and a portion of MeC.sub.aN.sub.b, 0≤a≤1, 0≤b≤1, a+b=1, present on the layer of Ti.sub.1-xAl.sub.xC.sub.yN.sub.z. The portion of MeC.sub.aN.sub.b covers from 5 to 28% of the layer of Ti.sub.1-xAl.sub.xC.sub.yN.sub.z. A process for the production of the coated cutting tool and the use of the coated cutting tool in machining of stainless steel is also provided.

A cutting insert may include a base member and a coating layer thereon. The coating layer may include a first layer including a titanium compound on the base member, a second layer including alumina and an upper surface on the first layer, and a third layer including a titanium compound on the upper surface. The coating layer may include a crack at a top surface and therein. In a cross section orthogonal to the top surface, the crack may be present in the third layer and the second layer; in the third layer it may have a width of 1 μm or more. In the upper surface it may have a width of 0.5 μm or more—smaller than the width of the crack in the third layer. Another part may have a width of 0.2 μm or less closer to the base member than the upper surface.

A cutting insert may include a base member and a coating layer thereon. The coating layer may include a first layer including a titanium compound on the base member, a second layer including alumina and an upper surface on the first layer, and a third layer including a titanium compound on the upper surface. The coating layer may include a crack at a top surface and therein. In a cross section orthogonal to the top surface, the crack may be present in the third layer and the second layer; in the third layer it may have a width of 1 μm or more. In the upper surface it may have a width of 0.5 μm or more—smaller than the width of the crack in the third layer. Another part may have a width of 0.2 μm or less closer to the base member than the upper surface.

A coated tool may include a base member and a coating layer. The coating layer may include a plurality of first AlTi layers indicated by Al.sub.1-x1Ti.sub.x1 and a plurality of second AlTi layers indicated by Al.sub.1-x2Ti.sub.x2. The coating layer may have alternating first AlTi layers and second AlTi layers, i.e. one upon another in a direction away from the base member, and x1 may be larger than x2. The plurality of first AlTi layers may include a first region having two or more adjacent first AlTi layers, where a first AlTi layer of the two or more adjacent first AlTi layers is located farther away from the base member and is smaller in thickness than a first AlTi layer of the two or more adjacent first AlTi layers located closer to the base member.

A coated tool may include a base member and a coating layer. The coating layer may include a plurality of first AlTi layers indicated by Al.sub.1-x1Ti.sub.x1 and a plurality of second AlTi layers indicated by Al.sub.1-x2Ti.sub.x2. The coating layer may have alternating first AlTi layers and second AlTi layers, i.e. one upon another in a direction away from the base member, and x1 may be larger than x2. The plurality of first AlTi layers may include a first region having two or more adjacent first AlTi layers, where a first AlTi layer of the two or more adjacent first AlTi layers is located farther away from the base member and is smaller in thickness than a first AlTi layer of the two or more adjacent first AlTi layers located closer to the base member.

A coated tool according to the present disclosure includes a base member and a coating layer located on the base member. The coating layer includes a first peak located in a range of 0° to 90° and a second peak located at a higher angle side than the first peak in a distribution of X-ray intensity indicated at α axis of a pole figure, the X-ray intensity regarding a plane of the cubic crystal. The coating layer further includes a valley part between the first peak and the second peak, and the valley part includes the X-ray intensity smaller than the X-ray intensity at each of the first peak and the second peak.

A coated tool according to the present disclosure includes a base member and a coating layer located on the base member. The coating layer includes a first peak located in a range of 0° to 90° and a second peak located at a higher angle side than the first peak in a distribution of X-ray intensity indicated at α axis of a pole figure, the X-ray intensity regarding a plane of the cubic crystal. The coating layer further includes a valley part between the first peak and the second peak, and the valley part includes the X-ray intensity smaller than the X-ray intensity at each of the first peak and the second peak.

A coated tool according to the present disclosure includes a base member and a coating layer located on the base member. The coating layer includes a first peak located in a range of 15° to 30° and a second peak located in a range of 60° to 75° in a distribution of X-ray intensity indicated at a axis of a pole figure, the X-ray intensity regarding a plane of the cubic crystal. The coating layer includes a valley part between the first peak and the second peak, and the valley part includes the X-ray intensity smaller than the X-ray intensity at each of the first peak and the second peak. The X-ray intensity at the first peak is 0.7 times or greater of the X-ray intensity at the second peak.

A coated tool according to the present disclosure includes a base member and a coating layer located on the base member. The coating layer includes a first peak located in a range of 15° to 30° and a second peak located in a range of 60° to 75° in a distribution of X-ray intensity indicated at a axis of a pole figure, the X-ray intensity regarding a plane of the cubic crystal. The coating layer includes a valley part between the first peak and the second peak, and the valley part includes the X-ray intensity smaller than the X-ray intensity at each of the first peak and the second peak. The X-ray intensity at the first peak is 0.7 times or greater of the X-ray intensity at the second peak.

In one aspect, cutting tools are described herein comprising wear resistant coatings employing one or more refractory layers of polycrystalline α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3. Briefly, a coated cutting tool described herein comprises a substrate, and a coating adhered to the substrate, the coating comprising a layer of polycrystalline α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), wherein at least 5% of all grain boundaries in the polycrystalline α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 layer have a misorientation angle less than 15 degrees as determined using a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) detector.