The addition of properly selected elements, coupled in nanoscale multilayer structures, can further enhance the properties of TiAlN coatings and bring new high performance. The incorporation of Y in the nanoscale pseudo-superlattice TiAlCiN/TiAlYN with typical period of 1.7 nm not only improves the oxidation resistance but also effectively reduces the coefficient of friction of the coating from 0.9 to 0.65 at temperatures in the range of 850-950 degrees C. The adaptation of the tribological properties occurs as a result of the preferential migration of the Y to the column boundaries. TiAlN/VN superlattice can achieve another self-adaptation process. During friction the coatings adapt themselves to the combined thermal and mechanical wear by the formation of highly lubricious vanadium-oxides due to high flash temperatures at the asperity contacts on the surface. The integrity of the bulk of the coating is retained, leading to exceptionally low, for superhard coatings, friction coefficient of 0.5 and a wear coefficient of 2 x 10(-17) m(3.)N(-1.)m(-1). The coatings have been deposited by the combined steered cathodic arc unbalanced magnetron sputtering method. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.