PVD coated carbides consist of a cemented carbide substrate over which titanium compound such as TiN is coated to about 1 to 3 µm thick by means of a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. Because of the lower coating temperature, the substrate does not form any brittle harmful layer and can maintain the original shape and dimension. The Ti(C, N, O) base coating is superior to TiN coating in wear resistance and (Ti, Al)N base coating has a higher resistance to oxidation. Due to the excellent toughness of both the coating and substrate, these grades are suitable for interrupted cutting. Their sharp cutting edge allows the grades to be used for cutting difficult-to-cut materials which tend to be work-hardened
