Alumina layer with enhanced texture

The present invention relates to a coated cutting tool insert comprising a substrate and a coating to be used in metal machining. The hard and wear resistant coating exhibits an excellent adhesion to the substrate covering all functional parts thereof. The coating is composed of one or more refractory layers of which at least one layer is α-Al2O3 showing a strong growth texture along . The α-Al2O3 layer has a thickness ranging from 1 to 20 μm and is composed of columnar grains with a length/width ratio of 2 to 15. The layer is characterized by a strong (006) diffraction peak, measured using XRD, and by low intensity of (012), (104), (113) (024) and (116) diffraction peaks. The textured α-Al2O3 layers is deposited in a temperature range of 750-1000° C. The texture is controlled by a specific nucleation procedure combined with the use of sulphur- and fluorine containing dopants.