Body with a metal based nitride layer and a method for coating the body

A method of making a hard and wear resistant coating comprising growing a metal based nitride layer by cathodic arc evaporation with an evaporation current between 50 A and 200 A using composite and/or alloyed cathodes, wherein said metal based nitride layer is (Zr1-x-zSixMez)Ny with 0<x<0.30, 0.90<y<1.20, 0≦z<0.25, and wherein Me is one or more of the elements selected from the group of Y, Ti, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W or Al, in a reactive atmosphere containing N2, at a total gas pressure between 1.0 Pa and 7.0 Pa, with a negative substrate bias between 0 V and 300 V, and at a temperature between 200° C. and 800° C.

A method of using a cutting tool insert for machining by chip removal, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cutting tool insert, the insert including a body of a hard alloy selected from the group of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material or high speed steel and depositing at least one metal based nitride layer onto the cutting tool insert, wherein said at least one metal based nitride layer is (Zr1-x-zSixMez)Ny with 0<x<0.30, 0.90<y<1.20, 0≦z<0.25, and Me is one or more of the elements Y, Ti, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and Al, the at least one metal based nitride layer having a phase of a sodium chloride structure selected from the group of a single cubic phase, a single hexagonal phase, a mixture thereof, or a cubic phase, the at least one metal based nitride layer having a thickness between 0.5 μm and 15 μm;
• and
• specifically generating high temperatures, at cutting speeds of 50-400 m/min, with an average feed, per tooth in the case of milling, of 0.08-0.5 mm, depending on cutting speed and insert geometry.