CATHODIC ARC SOURCE

Abstract

A cathodic arc evaporation apparatus including a target which has a target surface including an active surface from where material can be evaporated in a cathodic arc process; a confinement surrounding an outer boarder of the target surface; an anode having an electron receiving surface, the anode encompassing at least one of the target and the confinement in at least one of a target plane and an axial distance in front of the active surface; and a magnetic guidance system adapted to provide a magnetic field at the target surface being essentially in parallel to at least an outer region of the target surface so that magnetic field lines are in parallel to the target surface or inclined to it in an acute angle α, whereat an active surface is defined in a surface area where magnetic field lines enter the target surface in an acute angle α≤45°.

Claims

1. Cathodic arc evaporation apparatus comprising: a target as cathode having a front-target surface of a material to be evaporated, i.e. the active target surface, a back-target surface, parallel to the front-target surface but facing a target back plate placed in the opposite side in relation to the front-target surface, and a side-target surface connecting the front-target surface with the back-target surface, an electrically floating confinement located adjacent, preferably surrounding or at least partially surrounding the side-target surface, the confinement comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the side-target surface is closer to the inner surface of the confinement than to the outer surface of the confinement, an electrode as anode having an inner surface for acting as electron receiving surface, a magnetic guidance system adapted to provide magnetic fields comprising magnetic field lines located in front of the front-target surface, characterized in that: the inner surface of the confinement is placed: between the front-target surface and the electron receiving surface of the anode, if the distance in a perpendicular plane in relation to the front-target surface is considered, and/or between the side-target surface and the electron receiving surface of the anode, if the distance in a parallel plane in relation to the front-target surface is considered, and the magnetic guidance system designed and adjusted for producing at least following two magnetic fields regions: a first region comprising magnetic field lines located in front of the front-target surface which exit the front-target surface and end in the inner surface of the confinement member, and a second region comprising magnetic field lines located in front of the front-target surface which exit the front-target surface and end in the electron receiving surface of the anode.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a ferromagnetic central limiter electrically floating for modifying the trajectory of the magnetic fields lines that exit the front-target surface in order to make them essentially parallel to the plane of the front-target surface.

3. Method for operating the apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that during operation of the apparatus within a vacuum chamber, three plasma zones or plasma regions are produced, wherein: a first plasma zone comprises electrons crossing the magnetic fields without having access to the anode, because of the magnetic field lines that exit the front-target surface and end in the inner surface of the confinement member, a second plasma zone, in which electrons are drifted to the anode by the magnetic field lines that exit the front-target surface and end in the electron receiving surface of the anode, and a third plasma zone, in which there are not any magnetic field lines which neither exit the front-target surface and end in the inner surface of the confinement member nor exit the front-target surface and end in the electron receiving surface.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that: the electron temperature in the first plasma zone is between 1 eV und 5 eV, and the electron temperature in the second plasma zone and in the third plasma zone is between 0.3 eV und 1 eV.

5. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method comprises at least one step in which a reactive gas is introduced in the vacuum chamber and the apparatus is operated while the reactive gas is introduced in the vacuum chamber, wherein the first plasma zone comprises more reactive gas ions than the second plasma zone and the third plasma zone, consequently the reactive gas ion density in the first plasma zone being higher than the reactive gas ion density in the second and third plasma zones.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the target or at least the front-target surface is made of a metallic material and the reactive gas react with the metallic material from the target producing a layer comprising elements from the reactive gas as well as elements from the metallic material.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the target consists of or comprises Ti or Al or Al and Ti, and the reactive gas is nitrogen or comprises nitrogen, so that the layer resulting from the reaction of reactive gas with metallic material from the target is a nitriding layer consisting of or comprising TiN or AN or AlTiN, respectively.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the target material is selected consisting of or comprising Al and Ti in a concentration allowing the synthesis of a coating on a substrate placed in the third plasma zone, which consists of or comprises cubic aluminum nitride having element composition Al.sub.xTi.sub.1-xN with x as atomic concentration fraction of Al, wherein X is 0.8.

9. Cathodic arc evaporation apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a target which has a target surface comprising an active surface from where material can be evaporated in a cathodic arc process; a confinement surrounding an outer boarder of the target surface; an anode having an electron receiving surface, the anode encompassing at least one of the target and the confinement in at least one of a target plane and an axial distance in front of the active surface; a magnetic guidance system adapted to provide a magnetic field at the target surface being essentially in parallel to at least an outer region of the target surface so that magnetic field lines are in parallel to the target surface or inclined to it in an acute angle α, whereat an active surface is defined in a surface area where magnetic field lines enter the target surface in an acute angle α≤45°; a central axis Z or a central plane Z′; wherein the confinement and the anode both are made in closed geometry and both are electrically isolated against each other and the target, whereat the minimum distance of the electron receiving surface from the active surface is defined by at least one of a radial distance Δr.sub.14 of an outer boarder of the target surface to an inner boarder of the electron receiving surface, whereby the outer boarder of the target surface has a radial distance r1 from the middle of the target and the inner boarder of the electron receiving surface has a radial distance r4 from the middle of the target, and an axial distance h1 from the target surface to an upper boarder of the confinement or an axial distance h2 from the target surface to a lower boarder of the electron receiving surface.

10. Cathodic arc evaporation apparatus comprising a target which has a target surface comprising an active surface from where material can be evaporated in a cathodic arc process; a confinement surrounding an outer boarder of the target surface; an anode having an electron receiving surface, the anode encompassing at least one of the target and the confinement in at least one of a target plane and an axial distance in front of the active surface; a magnetic guidance system adapted to provide a magnetic field at the target surface being essentially in parallel to at least an outer region of the target surface so that magnetic field lines are in parallel to the target surface or inclined to it in an acute angle α, whereat an active surface is defined in a surface area where magnetic field lines enter the target surface in an acute angle α ≤45′; a central axis Z or a central plane Z′; wherein the confinement and the anode both are made in closed geometry and both are electrically isolated against each other and the target, whereat the minimum distance of the electron receiving surface from the active surface is defined by at least one of a radial distance Δr.sub.14 of an outer boarder of the target surface to an inner boarder of the electron receiving surface, whereby the outer boarder of the target surface has a radial distance r1 from the middle of the target and the inner boarder of the electron receiving surface has a radial distance r4 from the middle of the target, and an axial distance h1 from the target surface to an upper boarder of the confinement or an axial distance h2 from the target surface to a lower boarder of the electron receiving surface.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the essentially parallel magnetic field extends from the active target surface at least to an axial distance (h1, h2) of the confinement or the electron receiving surface, and/or extends at least to a height of 5 to 20 mm above the target surface.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that in a zone A above the active target surface, the strength of the magnetic flux density B.sub.A can be set from 20 to 500 Gauss or even higher.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the confinement is made of magnetic or non-magnetic material.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that radial distance Δr.sub.14 is from 5 to 30 mm.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial distance r1 of the outer boarder of the target surface from the center of the apparatus is from 40 to 110 mm.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the axial distance (h1, h2) is from 0 to 20 mm.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a maximum axial distance h3 of the electron receiving surface is: 10≤h3≤50.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetic guidance system comprises at least a central magnet having a pole placed in front of a center of a back surface of the target and being axially aligned to it, and a peripheral ring magnet having a reciprocal pole in or below a target plane, the ring magnet in prospect encompasses the central magnet and at least a part of the target.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one of the central magnet and the ring-magnet is an electromagnet or a permanent magnet.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the magnetic axis of the ring-magnet is tilt away from the central axis Z or plane Z′ in an upwards direction.

21. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the ring-magnet comprises two electromagnetic coils C2 and C3, whereby the diameter of C3 is larger than the diameter of C2.

22. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the magnetic guidance system further comprises a peripheral yoke encompassing the ring-magnet, the target and the anode, the peripheral yoke being made of magnetizable material.

23. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the magnetic guidance system further comprises a central limiter arranged in or round the center of the target surface, the central limiter being electrically isolated against the target and made of magnetic material having a Curie-temperature T.sub.c>500° C.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the central limiter protrudes 0 to 20 mm above the target surface or to an axial distance h1 or h2.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the central limiter is in a plane with the target surface.

26. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the confinement is made of non-magnetic material.

27. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the minimum distance of the electron receiving surface from the active surface is defined by the radial distance Δr.sub.14 and the axial distance h1 or h2.

28. Vacuum chamber comprising a cathodic arc evaporation apparatus according to claim 1.

29. Method to deposit a coating on a substrate in a vacuum chamber by use of a cathodic arc evaporation apparatus according to claim 1, whereat an electron trap is established at least immediately above a target surface within zone A by applying an essentially parallel magnetic field, with magnetic field lines entering the target surface in an acute angle α≤45°, to at least an outer region of the target surface by use of a magnetic guidance system, whereby an active surface is formed, and a cathodic arc discharge is ignited and maintained on the active surface, whereat zone A is sidewise delimited by a confinement on floating potential.

30. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that a zone B is formed above zone A to about an axial distance h3, given by the maximum axial distance of the electron receiving surface from the target surface.

31. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that a zone C is formed above zone A and B, wherein the magnetic field is very low or zero and the atmosphere comprises reactive gas molecules and at least one of positively ionized metallic ions, and positively ionized reacted metal ions.

32. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that the cathodic arc discharge is maintained at a discharge voltage between 20 V to 50 V.

33. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that the coating is an AlMeN, an AlMeO or an AlMeNO compound, where Me stands for one or more metals of the transition metal group IV, V or VI.

34. Method to produce a coated substrate by a deposition process according to claim 29.

35. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that the substrate is a tool or a component.

Description

FIGURES

[0068] The invention shall now be further exemplified with the help of figures. The figures show:

[0069] FIG. 1: Schematically and simplified a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0070] FIG. 2: A second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0071] FIG. 3: A third embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0072] FIG. 4: A fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 1 shows, most schematically and simplified, an embodiment of an arc source I according to the present invention, whereby a planar target 3 of radial width or diameter r1 and a respective confinement 4 encompassing the target, as well as an anode 2 encompassing both the target and the confinement. The target can be of polygonal, e.g. rectangular, or of circular shape and Z therefor defines a central plane or an axis of the target. In the following, for ease of understanding it is referred to circular and with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 to ring-shaped targets, however such dimensions can be easily translated to other planar targets, i.e. targets having a planar surface to be evaporated, of different shapes which are also encompassed by the present invention. Due to the nested construction of the arc source from FIG. 1, which also refers to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the inner diameter r2 of the confinement will be usually larger than the outer diameter r1 of the target 3, or at least larger than the outer diameter of the active target surface 3′, e.g. when the confinement is construed to protrude the target surface for a few millimeters (not shown) and form an arc extinguishing distance in an upward instead of a sidewise direction as shown in the figures. Such a distance, here r2−r1 should be in the range from 1.5 to 3 mm to ensure that electric arcs running on the surface of the target can neither creep into the gap formed between the target and the confinement nor expand to the confinements surface. At the same time occurrence of undesirable parasitic plasmas within the gap can be avoided. Similar distances can be chosen for the distance r4−r3 between the outer diameter r3 of the confinement 4 and the inner diameter r4 of the anode, or the respective axial distance h2−h1 of the confinement 4 to the anode 3 as shown in FIG. 2 or with a variation of the anode shape 2′″ as shown in FIG. 1 with dashed lines. Thereby electric contact as well as undesirable plasma formation between the electrically isolated confinement and the anode can be effectively avoided.

[0074] In the region where magnetic field lines enter the target surface in an acute angle of a 45°, the so called active surface 3′, an electric arc can be ignited and circularly steered by the radial magnetic field. Thereby an intensely shining plasma 10, (hereafter also called reactive gas plasma, can be formed by which reactive gas molecules, like nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon containing gases entering this zone can be effectively dissociated into its atomic, respectively ionic components and therewith help to react a metallic active target surface or metallic ions or clusters departing from the arc running on the surface. Thereby a great part of the possible reactive plasma processes, like nitridation, oxidation, carburization or processes with mixed reactive gases can happen at or near the target surface within zone A which is in the region between the last magnetic field line 9 still entering the confinement and the target surface 3, especially the active target surface 3′ which is formed at an outer surface region with embodiments as shown with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Zone A can also be seen as an electron trap as electrons are supposed to be reflected from the confinement walls and can escape from the plasma only when they arrive at zone B between field line 9, respectively 8′ and field line 8, whereat field line 8 enters the electron receiving surface at its highest or outermost boarder and field line 8′ enters the electron receiving surface at its lowest or innermost boarder, which is immediately above field line 9, see also FIG. 2. In zone B electrons will be neutralized at the anode 2. The electron receiving surface 2′, 2″, 2′″ of the anode 2 can be formed geometrically different, e.g. simply cylindric 2′, and/or as e.g. differently sloped against axis Z as shown with dashed lines 2″, or in a way protruding over at least a part of the confinement 4 as shown with dashed lines at 2′″ in FIG. 1. The anode is further provided with an anode cooling channel 6′, which can be connected to a dedicated or common, e.g. water based cooling line, not shown in the figures.

[0075] Similar to the electron receiving surface defined by an inner and/or an upper surface of the anode, the inner and/or upper surface of the confinement 4 can be formed geometrically different, e.g. simply cylindric 4′, and/or e.g. at least in parts differently sloped against axis Z as shown with dashed line 4″, or protruding the target surface as shown with dashed lines 4′″.

[0076] All inventive arc sources are further provided with a magnetic guidance system adapted to provide a magnetic field in front of the target surface being essentially in parallel to at least an outer region of the target surface as with embodiments show in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 or even over the whole target surface as with embodiments as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Essentially in parallel hereby means that magnetic field lines enter the active target surface in an acute angle α≤45°, or even more acute with a 30°, or a 25°. Such magnetic guidance systems as shown in an exemplary manner in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 can also be used with any other embodiments, e.g. with embodiment 1 and 2 of the inventive arc source, and will usually comprise a central magnet 14 and a ring-magnet 15, the latter encompassing the central magnet and facultatively the target 3 at least in prospect. A ferromagnetic peripheral yoke 17 on ground potential may also help with any embodiment to further form the magnetic field, e.g. to limit the extension of the magnetic field lines in a radial direction.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows an inventive embodiment of an arc source II with a cylindrical anode 2 arranged on top of a cylindrical confinement, both of the same inner diameter. In this case essentially only distance h2 will contribute to the raise of the discharge voltage of the arc source, whereas in any other embodiments as shown in other figures axial distance h1 or h2 and radial distance r5−r2 will contribute. The latter distance is nearly neglectable with FIG. 2 as being reduced to the gap between the target and the confinement.

[0078] In another embodiment, which is not shown in the figures, the confinement is formed as a ring encompassing the target at target surface level, and the anode is formed as a ring encompassing both at the same level. In this case essentially only radial distance r4−r1 will contribute to the raise of the discharge voltage of the arc source, when inner confinement surfaces 4′, 4″, 4′″ and inner electron receiving surfaces are replaced completely by respective upper confinement and anode surfaces, when arranged at the same level as the target surface 3.

[0079] FIG. 3 shows an arc source III similar to FIG. 1 having a basic magnetic guidance system with a central permanent magnet 14 having its magnetic axis M.sub.c in line with central axis Z, whereas the magnetic axis M.sub.r of the ring magnet 15 is tilt away from the central axis Z, or plane Z in an upwards direction. The angel of tilting of the magnetic axis M.sub.r against central axis Z can be between 0 and 45°, e.g. between 5 and 30° up to the respective situation. Therewith also the magnetic separatrix can be influenced, respectively tilted whereby a flatter or more parallel course of the field lines above the target surface can be reached. In this context the separatrix is the plane between magnetic field lines running on the one hand from one pole, here the south pole of the ring-magnet to the counter pole, here the north pole of the central magnet and on the other hand magnetic field lines running from the one pole of the ring-magnet to the counter pole of the same ring-magnet. A man of the art will recognize that magnetic poles can be swapped in opposition. A ferromagnetic peripheral yoke 17, e.g. on anode potential, which usually is ground potential, can be used also to make the field lines more parallel above the target surface and to block the magnetic field in a radial direction outside the peripheral yoke which encompasses the whole arc source sidewise. With FIG. 3 central magnet 3 is arranged immediately under the target back plate 12, which comprises a target cooling channel which can be connected to a dedicated or common, e.g. water-based cooling line, not shown in the figures. Alternatively, the central magnet could be also placed within the backplate 12, e.g. within the cooling channel 13.

[0080] Further on an arc source of type III or IV, see below with FIG. 4, comprises a ferromagnetic central limiter 16 on electrically floating potential at or in the center of the target 3. Therefor yoke 16 is mounted on an isolator 19 of electrically isolating and heat resistant material, like ceramics, similar to the as floating mounted confinement 4 which is mounted with the help of at least one electrically isolator 20. The gap between the central limiter 16 and the target should be in the dimensions as mentioned above with the confinement 4, that is be in the range from 1.5 to 3 mm.

[0081] With the help of the central limiter 16 symbolically shown magnetic field lines f.sub.m can be formed essentially in parallel to the whole target surface 3′. Thereby also the active target surface 3″ can expand over the whole surface 3′, in this case a surface ring. Due to the high heat load in the middle of the target any central limiter 16 for any embodiment must be made of magnetic material having a high Curie-temperature T.sub.c preferably over 600° or higher. Permeability μ.sub.r of such materials should be at least higher 100 or even higher 500, the saturation magnetization should be higher 0.3 Tesla, or even higher 0.5 Tesla. Such materials should also have a low remanence Br, especially if magnetic steering of the arc should involve dynamic magnetic fields, e.g. when magnetic coils are driven with a variable, e.g. pulsed current respective coercive filed strength H.sub.c should be below 200 A/m or even equal or below 50 A/m.

[0082] Examples of such materials are pure iron like ARMCO® iron having a T.sub.c of 766° C., construction steels having a low content of carbon like 5235 or 5355 steel having a T.sub.c of about 768° C., or ferritic corrosion resistance steels having a chromium content higher 10.5%, e.g. from 17.25 to 18.25 according to ASTM A838-02 (2007) having a T.sub.c of 671° C. with a low Si concentration from 0.30 to 0.70 mass %, or having a T.sub.c of 660° C. with a higher Si concentration from 1.00 to 1.50 mass %. Magnetic properties of the peripheral yoke 17 should be the same however as this yoke is away from the hot target surface also austenitic steels having respective properties and other more inexpensive magnetic material can be used having a much lower Currie temperature.

[0083] As with FIG. 3 an arc source with a ferromagnetic central limiter is shown in FIG. 4, here within a most simplified and schematically vacuum chamber 1 having a substrate 7 mounted above the arc source IV. Contrary to the arc source of type III in FIG. 3 using permanent magnets the magnetic guidance system of the arc source of type IV makes use of electromagnets C1, C2, C3, whereat magnet 14 is realized by electromagnetic coil C1 with a central coil yoke 18, and ring-magnet 15 is realized by coils C2 and C3 and outer coil yoke 21.

[0084] FIG. 4 shows a realized industrial set up of an inventive arc source type IV with an electromagnetic guidance system and so do magnetic field lines refer to actual field lines which can be produced with such a system as a superposition of fields H.sub.C1, H.sub.C2 and H.sub.C3 produced by coils C1, C2 and C3. Wherein central magnet 14 comprises electromagnetic coil C1 and central coil yoke 18 and ring-magnet 15 comprises electromagnetic coils C2, and C3, and outer coil yoke 21. To produce such a field magnetic axis M.sub.r and respective separatrix of the ring-magnet 15 has been tilt away from central axis Z in an upwards direction by applying a higher current to C2 than to C3, which means I.sub.C2>I.sub.C3. Alternatively, such an effect can also be produced by feeding the same current to coils of different windings N, e.g. N.sub.C2>N.sub.C3. The anode is a two part anode having an anode body 25 with cooling channel 6 and an inner ring-like extension 26. Vacuum seals 22 tighten the vacuum chamber 1 against ambient air and water from the cooling circuit(s) 6, 13. Substrates 7 can be mounted to substrate supports (not shown) in a known e.g. rotating manner. Zones A, B and C are about separated from each other by field lines 8 and 9 as depicted. With such a construction a lean arc source having an outer diameter of 220 mm could be realized with a target diameter of 130 mm and a ferromagnetic central limiter of 36 mm. Total height from the backside of the target 3 to the upper boarder of the electron receiving surface 2 was about 53 mm.

[0085] In an industrial environment using an Oerlikon batch coating equipment providing a coating height of 1000 mm up to 24 type IV arc sources could be installed in four rows each row comprising 6 arc sources per meter one above the other whereby hard coatings of the AlMeN and AlMeNO type could be deposited with a high rate and a high aluminum content on different substrates. With an aluminum content from zero to 85%, especially with high aluminum concentrations between 70 and 85%, e.g. in combination with at least one of Ti and Cr, pure cubic phase compounds could be deposited. The chamber diameter of such equipment is 1000 mmm, having a carrousel of 700 mm diameter and a chamber height of 2000 mm. Substrates where mounted with 1-, 2- and 3-fold rotation, nearest substrate to target distance was about 300 mm. Similar tests have been performed with further industrially available coating systems of the Innova and Innoventa type of the applicant. Thereby industrial applicability could be tested for the following chamber dimensions: diameter of chamber 500-1200 mm, diameter of carousel 300-900 mm, chamber height 1000-2000 mm, with a usable coating height of 500-1500 mm.

[0086] In the following properties and geometric data of certain core components of an inventive arc sources are listed: [0087] Target: can be cooled directly or via a bonded backplate depending on respective material strength. Both types can be mounted on a water-cooled cathode electrode; [0088] circular diameter D.sub.T, 60 mm D.sub.T=2r1≤200 mm; 100 mm≤D.sub.T=2r1≤150 mm; [0089] material: any solid material adapted for arc evaporation. [0090] Confinement: is mounted isolated between the target and the anode whereby a potential between the cathodic target potential and the positive or grounded anode potential is induced during the cathodic arc process. [0091] inner diameter D.sub.CI, 95≤D.sub.CI=2×r2≤155 mm; e.g. 132 mm [0092] thickness t.sub.CR in radial direction (r3−r2), 10≤t.sub.CR≤30 mm; e.g. 148 mm; it should be mentioned that thickness t.sub.CR only refers to the surface area of the confinement ring which can be exposed to the arc-plasma, whereas the total thickness extension of the confinement ring can be larger due to construction features of a specific arc source, e.g. when an anode extension overlaps and thereby protects an outer part of the confinement ring against interaction with the plasma. [0093] distance h1 from the active surface to an upper surface or the top of the confinement ring 0 (for a planar embodiment)≤h1≤20, preferred ranges for cylindric and combined embodiments, e.g. FIGS. 1 to 4, 10≤h1≤30, e.g. 15≤h1≤25; [0094] the radial distance of the confinement ring, at least in the region where the confinement ring encompasses the target in a target plane will be usually defined by a distance d.sub.D==r3−r2=r4−r5=h2−h1, for which is valid 1.5 mm≤d.sub.D≤3 mm; thereby expanding of the arc spot to the confinement as well as parasitic plasmas between components of the source are prevented as this distance complies with a dark room distance with usual process pressures; [0095] material: ferromagnetic material like iron, carbon steel or the like but also non-magnetic metals having a melting point high enough to withstand the high thermal load of the neighboring arc discharge, e.g. stainless steel. [0096] Anode: internally water-cooled is set on a positive potential or on ground potential; [0097] inner diameter D.sub.AI, which also defines the inner diameter of the electrode receiving surface 80 mm≤D.sub.AI=2×r4≤220 mm, 120 mm D.sub.AI=2×r4≤170 mm or about 150 mm; [0098] thickness t.sub.AR in radial direction, 10≤t.sub.AR≤40 mm; [0099] distance h2 from the active surface to an electron receiving surface or the top of the confinement ring 0 (e.g. for a planar embodiment)≤h1≤50, preferred range for cylindric and combined embodiments 10≤h1≤35; h2 can be the same as h1 when confinement is nested within the anode, e.g. when the anode has an electron receiving surface 2′, 2″ according to FIGS. 1 and 3. [0100] material can be copper, carbon steel or stainless steel. [0101] Total geometry of the cathode assembly [0102] diameter in the range of 150 mm (e.g. for a zylindric modification)≤DSource≤290 mm (e.g. for a planar modification), or 180 mm≤DSource≤260 mm [0103] Magnetic guidance system to generate a magnetic field having a high parallel component at least near above an outer region of the active target surface. The means comprising a guidance system placed in front of the back surface of the target, e.g. on the backplate of the cathode electrode and electrically isolated against the electrode. The guidance system can be optionally assisted by a ferromagnetic central limiter, which is mounted electrically isolated (on floating potential) in the center of the target surface and/or a peripheral yoke. [0104] Ferromagnetic central limiter: [0105] circular diameter D.sub.Y, 15 mm≤D.sub.Y≤50 mm; e.g. 36 mm [0106] material: pure iron, construction steel of low carbon content, ferritic corrosion resistant steel, details see above [0107] Magnetic field which can be set with the inventive source: [0108] should be essentially in parallel at and near the active target surface at least for an outer region of the active target surface; [0109] formation of three zones (A, B, C) during cathodic arc processes possible with magnetic flux density B.sub.A>B.sub.B>B.sub.C, details see above; [0110] The arc source supply can be a DC supply delivering discharge currents e.g. from 10 to 200 A, e.g. 40 to 120 A per source. Alternatively, a pulsed arc supply or a DC-supply with a superimposed pulse supply can be used. [0111] Contrary to state of the art sources which are driven with a discharge voltage between 12 and 20 V, the present source can be driven with a discharge voltage between from 20 to 50 V, e.g. from 25 to 40 V or from 30 to 35 V due to the higher resistance of the electron trap which can be formed in zone A due to the geometry, materials and magnetic means of the present arc source.

[0112] Finally, it should be mentioned that a combination of features mentioned with one embodiment, example or type of the present invention can be combined with any other embodiment, example or type of the invention unless being in contradiction.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0113] 1 vacuum chamber [0114] 2 anode [0115] 2′, 2″, 2′″ electron receiving surface of the anode [0116] 3 target [0117] 3′ target surface [0118] 3″ active target surface [0119] 4 confinement on electrical floating potential [0120] 4′, 4″, 4′″ inner surface of the confinement [0121] 5 arc discharge supply [0122] 6 cooling channel anode [0123] 7 substrate (biased/non biased) [0124] 8, 8′ magnetic field line to anode [0125] 9 magnetic field line to confinement [0126] 10 gas plasma [0127] 11 gas inlet (N.sub.2, O.sub.2, CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.2, Ar) [0128] 12 target back plate [0129] 13 cooling channel back plate [0130] 14 central magnet [0131] 15 ring-magnet [0132] 16 ferromagnetic central limiter electrically floating [0133] 17 ferromagnetic peripheral yoke on ground potential [0134] 18 central coil yoke [0135] 19 isolator for central limiter [0136] 20 isolator for confinement [0137] 21 outer coil yoke [0138] 22 seal [0139] 23 electric isolator for target [0140] 24 anode base [0141] 25 anode extension [0142] 26 part of the chamber or component of the chamber or within the chamber, e.g. a flange or a part of a flange that is preferably electrically connected to the anode, so that they are at the same potential [0143] C1, C2, C3 electromagnetic coil 1, 2, 3 [0144] h1 axial distance from the active surface 3′ to an upper boarder of the confinement 4; [0145] h2 axial distance from the active surface 3′ to a lower boarder of the electron receiving surface 2′, 2″, 2′″, can be the same as h1, see e.g. FIG. 2 left side electron receiving surfaces 2′, 2″; [0146] h3 axial distance from the active surface 3′ to the upper boarder of the electron receiving surface 2′, 2″, 2′″; [0147] M magnetic axis [0148] r1 radial distance from central axis for a circular target 3 or radial distance from central plane for a polygonal, e.g. rectangular target 3; [0149] r2 radial distance from central axis/plane to inner diameter/boarder of confinement 4; [0150] r3 radial distance from central axis/plane to outer diameter/boarder of confinement 4; [0151] r4 radial distance from central axis/plane to inner diameter/boarder of electron receiving surface 2′, 2″, 2′″; [0152] r5 radial distance from central axis/plane to outer diameter/boarder of electron receiving surface 2′, 2″, 2′″; [0153] r6 radial distance from central axis/plane to outer boarder of the arc source; [0154] Z central plane or axis for polygonal respectively circular targets

[0155] Concretely, the present application relates to a cathodic arc evaporation apparatus comprising: [0156] a target as cathode having [0157] a front-target surface of a material to be evaporated, i.e. the active target surface, [0158] a back-target surface, parallel to the front-target surface but facing a target back plate placed in the opposite side in relation to the front-target surface, and [0159] a side-target surface connecting the front-target surface with the back-target surface, [0160] an electrically floating confinement located adjacent, preferably surrounding or at least partially surrounding the side-target surface, the confinement comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the side-target surface is closer to the inner surface of the confinement than to the outer surface of the confinement. [0161] an electrode as anode having an inner surface for acting as electron receiving surface, [0162] a magnetic guidance system adapted to provide magnetic fields comprising magnetic field lines located in front of the front-target surface, wherein: [0163] the inner surface of the confinement is placed: [0164] between the front-target surface and the electron receiving surface of the anode, if the distance in a perpendicular plane in relation to the front-target surface is considered, and/or [0165] between the side-target surface and the electron receiving surface of the anode, if the distance in a parallel plane in relation to the front-target surface is considered, and [0166] the magnetic guidance system designed and adjusted for producing at least following two magnetic fields regions: [0167] a first region comprising magnetic field lines located in front of the front-target surface which exit the front-target surface and end in the inner surface of the confinement member, and [0168] a second region comprising magnetic field lines located in front of the front-target surface which exit the front-target surface and end in the electron receiving surface of the anode,

[0169] The apparatus preferably comprising a ferromagnetic central limiter electrically floating (16) for modifying the trajectory of the magnetic fields lines that exit the front-target surface in order to make them essentially parallel to the plane of the front-target surface.

[0170] The present invention refers also to a method for operating the inventive apparatus, wherein during operation of the apparatus within a vacuum chamber, three plasma zones or plasma regions are produced, wherein: [0171] a first plasma zone comprises electrons crossing the magnetic fields without having access to the anode, because of the magnetic field lines that exit the front-target surface and end in the inner surface of the confinement member, [0172] a second plasma zone, in which electrons are drifted to the anode by the magnetic field lines that exit the front-target surface and end in the electron receiving surface of the anode, and [0173] a third plasma zone, in which there are not any magnetic field lines which neither exit the front-target surface and end in the inner surface of the confinement member nor exit the front-target surface and end in the electron receiving surface.

[0174] The electron temperature by applying the above mentioned method if preferably: [0175] between 1 eV und 5 eV in the first plasma zone, and [0176] between 0.3 eV und 1 eV in the second and third plasma zone.

[0177] Preferably the inventive method comprises at least one step in which a reactive gas is introduced in the vacuum chamber and the apparatus is operated while the reactive gas is introduced in the vacuum chamber, wherein the first plasma zone comprises more reactive gas ions than the second plasma zone and the third plasma zone, consequently the reactive gas ion density in the first plasma zone being higher than the reactive gas ion density in the second and third plasma zones.

[0178] In a preferred embodiment of the method the target or at least the front-target surface is made of a metallic material and the reactive gas react with the metallic material from the target producing a layer comprising elements from the reactive gas as well as elements from the metallic material.

[0179] According to a further preferred embodiment the target consists of or comprises Ti or Al or Al and Ti, and the reactive gas is nitrogen or comprises nitrogen, so that the layer resulting from the reaction of reactive gas with metallic material from the target is a nitriding layer consisting of or comprising TiN or AlN or AlTiN, respectively.

[0180] According to one more preferred embodiment the target material is selected consisting of or comprising Al and Ti in a concentration allowing the synthesis of a coating on a substrate placed in the third plasma zone, which consists of or comprises cubic aluminum nitride having element composition Al.sub.xTi.sub.1-xN with x as atomic concentration fraction of Al, wherein X is 0.8.

[0181] In a more detailed embodiment of the inventive cathodic arc evaporation apparatus, it comprises [0182] a target (3) which has a target surface (3′) comprising an active surface (3″) from where material can be evaporated in a cathodic arc process; [0183] a confinement (4) surrounding an outer boarder of the target surface (3′); [0184] an anode (2) having an electron receiving surface (2′, 2″, 2′″), the anode (2) encompassing at least one of the target (3) and the confinement (4) in at least one of a target plane and an axial distance in front of the active surface; [0185] a magnetic guidance system adapted to provide a magnetic field at the target surface being essentially in parallel to at least an outer region of the target surface so that magnetic field lines are in parallel to the target surface or inclined to it in an acute angle α, whereat an active surface (3″) is defined in a surface (3′) area where magnetic field lines enter the target surface in an acute angle α 45′; [0186] a central axis Z or a central plane Z′; [0187] wherein the confinement (4) and the anode (2) both are made in closed geometry and both are electrically isolated against each other and the target, whereat the minimum distance of the electron receiving surface (2′, 2″, 2′″) from the active surface (3″) is defined by at least one of a radial distance Δr.sub.14 of an outer boarder of the target surface (3′) to an inner boarder of the electron receiving surface, whereby the outer boarder of the target surface (3′) has a radial distance r1 from the middle of the target and the inner boarder of the electron receiving surface has a radial distance r4 from the middle of the target, and an axial distance h1 from the target surface (3′) to an upper boarder of the confinement or an axial distance h2 from the target surface (3′) to a lower boarder of the electron receiving surface (2′, 2″, 2′″).

[0188] The inventive apparatus according to any of the preferred embodiments described above is preferably adjusted so that essentially parallel magnetic field extends from the active target surface (3′) at least to an axial distance (h1, h2) of the confinement or the electron receiving surface, and/or extends at least to a height of 5 to 20 mm above the target surface.

[0189] In the zone A above the active target surface, the strength of the magnetic flux density B.sub.A can be set from 20 to 500 Gauss or even higher.

[0190] The confinement can be made of magnetic or non-magnetic material.

[0191] Preferably the radial distance Δr.sub.14 is from 5 to 30 mm.

[0192] Preferably the radial distance r1 of the outer boarder of the target surface from the center of the apparatus is from 40 to 110 mm.

[0193] Preferably the axial distance (h1, h2) is from 0 to 20 mm.

[0194] Preferably a maximum axial distance h3 of the electron receiving surface is: 10≤h3≤50.

[0195] Preferably the magnetic guidance system comprises at least a central magnet having a pole placed in front of a center of a back surface of the target and being axially aligned to it, and a peripheral ring magnet having a reciprocal pole in or below a target plane, the ring magnet in prospect encompasses the central magnet and at least a part of the target.

[0196] Preferably at least one of the central magnet and the ring-magnet is an electromagnet or a permanent magnet.

[0197] Preferably the magnetic axis of the ring-magnet is tilt away from the central axis Z or plane Z′ in an upwards direction.

[0198] In a preferred embodiment the ring-magnet comprises two electromagnetic coils C2 and C3, whereby the diameter of C3 is larger than the diameter of C2.

[0199] In a further preferred embodiment, the magnetic guidance system further comprises a peripheral yoke encompassing the ring-magnet, the target and the anode, the peripheral yoke being made of magnetizable material.

[0200] Preferably the magnetic guidance system further comprises a central limiter arranged in or round the center of the target surface, the central limiter being electrically isolated against the target and made of magnetic material having a Curie-temperature T.sub.c>500° C.

[0201] In a preferred embodiment the central limiter protrudes 0 to 20 mm above the target surface or to an axial distance h1 or h2.

[0202] In a further preferred embodiment, the central limiter is in a plane with the target surface.

[0203] In a preferred embodiment the confinement is made of non-magnetic material.

[0204] In a further preferred embodiment, the minimum distance of the electron receiving surface (2′, 2″, 2′″) from the active surface (3′) is defined by the radial distance Δr.sub.14 and the axial distance h1 or h2.

[0205] The present invention also relates to a vacuum chamber comprising an inventive cathodic arc evaporation apparatus according to any one of the above-mentioned inventive embodiments.

[0206] The present invention relates also to a method to deposit a coating on a substrate in a vacuum chamber by use of a cathodic arc evaporation apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 18, whereat an electron trap is established at least immediately above a target surface within zone

[0207] A by applying an essentially parallel magnetic field, with magnetic field lines entering the target surface in an acute angle α≤45°, to at least an outer region of the target surface (3) by use of a magnetic guidance system, whereby an active surface (3″) is formed, and a cathodic arc discharge is ignited and maintained on the active surface, whereat zone A is sidewise delimited by a confinement on floating potential.

[0208] Preferably the zone B is formed above zone A to about an axial distance h3, given by the maximum axial distance of the electron receiving surface from the target surface.

[0209] Preferably the zone C is formed above zone A and B, wherein the magnetic field is very low or zero and the atmosphere comprises reactive gas molecules and at least one of positively ionized metallic ions, and positively ionized reacted metal ions.

[0210] In a preferred embodiment of the inventive methods described above, the cathodic arc discharge is maintained at a discharge voltage between 20 V to 50 V.

[0211] In a preferred embodiment of the inventive method, the coating is an AlMeN, an AlMeO or an AlMeNO compound, where Me stands for one or more metals of the transition metal group IV, V or VI.

[0212] The present invention relates also to a method to produce a coated substrate by a deposition process according to any one of the inventive embodiments described above.

[0213] In a preferred embodiment the coated substrate is a tool or a component.