| abstract |
Surface coating includes alternating first and second ternary layers, wherein the first layer TiAlNx has a higher nitrogen content and is considerably thinner than the second layer TiAlNy. The first layer is preferably applied by decreasing the nitrogen content of a reactive atmosphere from a maximum to a minimum during sputtering of a TiAl target. The second layer is then applied by sputtering the TiAl target over a longer period of time while the nitrogen content is maintained constant at the minimum. When a further first layer is applied, the nitrogen is again increased to the maximum. |