TiN, nanocomposite nc-TiAlN/a-Si3N4 (NC) and multi-layered TiN/NC coatings were deposited on commercially used tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) based tool material substrates by cathodic arc physical vapour deposition (CA-PVD) technique. The coatings were subjected to cyclic nanoimpact testing with impact loads of 1 and 5 mN. Properties such as fracture probability, (h1–hs)/(hf–h1) index and crack morphologies were analysed based on which, the performance order of the coatings was evaluated. It was observed that the multi-layer coating performed better followed by monolithic titanium nitride and nanocomposite coating (TiN/NC > TiN > NC). The order of the coatings so obtained was further compared with their relative performance during real-time machining studies. It was observed during machining that the order was changed to TiN/NC > NC > TiN. The better performance in TiN/NC coating was due to arresting of cracks formed in NC layer by TiN layer.
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