Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A coated hard tool including a hard base material
(1) and a hard coating (4) on a surface of said base
material (1), wherein said coating (4) includes a total of at least four
type A sublayers (4A) and type B sublayers (4B) stacked
alternately starting with a type A sublayer (4A) or a type
B sublayer (4B) at least indirectly on said surface of
said base material (1), said type A sublayer (4A) has a thickness in a range
of 100 to 5000 nm, and includes a plurality of at least
first secondary sublayers (4A1) and second secondary
sublayers (4A2) successively stacked periodically and
repeatedly with each other, wherein said first secondary
sublayers (4A1) respectively have a first composition
including at least one compound selected from a nitride, a
carbide, a nitrided carbide and an oxide containing at
least one element selected from periodic group 4A elements,
periodic group 5A elements, Al and B, wherein said second
secondary sublayers (4A2) respectively have a second
composition different from said first composition and
including at least one compound selected from a nitride, a
carbide, a nitrided carbide and an oxide containing at
least one element selected from periodic group 4A elements,
periodic group 5A elements, Al and B, and wherein each
said secondary sublayer (4A1, 4A2) has a thickness in a
range of 1 to 50 nm, said type B sublayer (4B) consists of a single layer
containing at least one compound selected from a nitride,
a carbide, a nitrided carbide and an oxide containing at
least one element selected from periodic group 4A elements,
periodic group 5A elements, Al and B, and having a
thickness in a range of 100 to 5000 nm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1, wherein
said coating (4) as a whole has a total thickness in a
range of 0.5 to 10µm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1, further
comprising an intermediate layer (3) interposed between
said surface of said base material (1) and said coating
(4), wherein said intermediate layer (3) contains a
compound selected from a nitride, a carbide, a nitrided
carbide and an oxide of a periodic group 4A element, and
has a thickness in a range of 0.5 to 10µm, and wherein
said coating (4) and said intermediate layer (3) together
have a total thickness in a range of 1 to 14µm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 3, wherein
said intermediate layer (3) consists essentially of a
single layer of one of TiN, TiCN, TiZrN, TaC, and HfO.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 4, wherein
said type B sublayer (4B) consists essentially of one of
TiN, TiC, TaCN and SiC, and said first and second
secondary sublayers (4A1, 4A2) of said type A sublayer
respectively consist essentially of combinations of
compounds selected from TiN/AlN, TiN/TiAlN, TiCN/Al 2 O 3 ,
HfC/NbO, ZrCN/TaN and VN/BN.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 3, wherein
said thickness of said intermediate layer (3) is not less
than said thickness of said type A sublayer (4A) and is
not less than said thickness of said type B sublayer (4B).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 3, wherein
said thickness of said intermediate layer (3) is at least
1µm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 3, wherein
said thickness of said intermediate layer (3) is not
greater than 2 µm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1, wherein
said coating (4) is arranged directly on and in contact
with said surface of said base material (1).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein said coating (4) consists of said type A sublayers
(4A) and said type B sublayers (4B).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 10,
wherein each one of said type A sublayers (4A) consists of
said first secondary sublayers (4A1) and said second
secondary sublayers (4A2).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein said type B sublayer (4B) consists essentially of
one of TiN, TiC, TaCN and SiC, and said first and second
secondary sublayers (4A1, 4A2) of said type A sublayer
(4A) respectively consist essentially of combinations of
compounds selected from TiN/AlN, TiN/TiAlN, TiCN/Al 2 O 3 ,
HfC/NbO, ZrCN/TaN and VN/BN.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein said hard base material (1) comprises one of a
cermet, an alumina based ceramic, a silicon nitride based
ceramic, and a superhard alloy selected from a WC-Co alloy,
and a WC-Co alloy containing WC, Co, and at least one of a
carbide, a nitride, and a nitrided carbide of at least one
of Ti, Ta, and Nb.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein said coating (4) includes at least 8 of said type
A and type B sublayers (4A, 4B).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein said coating (4) includes at least 10 of said type
A and type B sublayers (4A, 4B).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein said coating (4) includes at least 13 of said type
A and type B sublayers (4A, 4B).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein each said type A sublayer (4A) includes at least
24 of said first and second secondary sublayers (4A1, 4A2).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein each said type A sublayer (4A) includes at least
75 of said first and second secondary sublayers (4A1, 4A2).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The coated hard tool according to claim 1,
wherein each said type A sublayer (4A) includes at least
100 of said first and second secondary sublayers (4A1,
4A2).