Ti1-xAlxN coatings with cubic structure are widely applied in advanced machining and other high temperature applications due to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Recently, alloying to tailor the properties of Ti-Al-N coatings attracts considerable interest. Here, we investigate the effect of Hf on structure and thermal properties of Ti-Al-N coating with cubic structure. Alloying with 3 at.% Hf slightly promotes the spinodal decomposition of Ti-Al-N, and retards the formation of wurtzite AlN during thermal annealing. The optimized oxidation resistance at 850 degrees C for 10 h is obtained by Hf-containing coating with oxide scale of similar to 0.81 mu m due to the retarded transformation of metastable anatase to stable rutile TiO2, whereas Ti-Al-N coating is fully oxidized. However, the thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results shows that Ti-Al-Hf-N exhibits faster mass gain and higher exothermic heat flow between similar to 1053 and 1137 degrees C than Ti-Al-N, indicating its inferior oxidation resistance, which is certified by a fast oxidation of coated sample on Al2O3 substrates at 1100 degrees C. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.