While the grain sizes of conventional PVD coatings are in the range of 30-80 nanometers depending on the type of coating, the grain sizes of nanocomposite coatings are usually around 10 nanometers. For this reason, the columnar grain structure of conventional PVD coatings seen in the electron microscope cross-section photographs is not seen in nanocomposite coatings; the structure has an amorphous-like appearance.