Cutting tools such as end-mills, drills, taps, inserts, and punches all benefit from being coated with wear-resistant PVD coating. Even if the cutting tools are produced from tungsten carbide. The PVD coating is even harder than carbide! They also create a low friction surface. These properties combine to increase the useful life of cutting tools through PVD treatment. In fact, many other types of parts that are subject to heavy wear will benefit from these same PVD plated finishes. Examples such as engine components, gears, razor blades, bearings, dies, PVD gun finishes, and PVD coating stainless steel are coated daily at VTI.
| CatArc® TiN | CatArc® ZrN | CatArc® TiCN | CatArc® CrN | CatArc® AlTiN | CatArc® Black Cat | Sputtered TiAlN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coating Material | Titanium Nitride | Zirconium Nitride | Titanium Carbonitride | Chromium Nitride | Aluminum Titanium Nitride | Aluminum Titanium Chromium Carbonitride | Titanium Aluminum Nitride |
| Micro Hardness (Vickers) | 2800 | 2450 | 3200 | 2250 | 3400 | 3500 | 3600 |
| Coefficient of Friction | .4 –.5 | .50 | .40 | .3 –.5 | .40 | .40 –.45 | .45 |
| Temperature Stability | 500 °C (932 °F) | 565 °C (1049 °F) | 400 °C (752 °F) | 700 °C (1292 °F) | 900 °C (1652 °F) | 926 °C (1700 °F) | 800 °C (1472 °F) |
| Standard Thickness in Microns | 1.0 – 2.0 | 1.0 – 2.0 | 1.0 – 2.0 | 1.0 – 2.0 | 2.0 – 4.0 | 2.0 – 5.0 | 2.0 – 5.0 |
| Application Range in Microns | 1.0 – 5.0 | 1.0 – 5.0 | 1.0 – 5.0 | 1.0 – 5.0 | 2.0 – 4.0 | 2.0 – 5.0 | 2.0 – 5.0 |
| Color | gold | pale gold | dark gray | silver-gray | gray-black | black | gray |
| Description | Low deposition temperature of 400°F makesit ideal for temperature sensitive tool steels. Ideal for most general purpose machining, medical tools, injection molding and moderate forming applications. | Low deposition temperature of 400°F makesit ideal for temperature sensitive substrates. Attractive light gold color and is used in wearresistant decorative applications and medical tools. Due to its high lubricity, it is a good candidate for machining nonferrous metals such as titanium, brass, copper and aluminum. | Hard general purpose coating deposited using our patented switched cathodic arc process. TiCN is harder than TiN and is well suited for medium severity cutting applications, primarily interrupted cutting. | Tough lubricious coating deposited using our patented switched cathodic arc process. The very low deposition temperature of 400°F makes it ideal for temperature sensitive materials. CrN is an extremely tough coating and is ideal for metalforming/stamping and similar applications. | Super-hard coating with high temperature resistance developed specifically for dry machining applications. | Breakthrough PVD coating engineered for today's high velocity projectile delivery systems. It not only has corrosion shield but also thermal stability. Critical protection of high precision, specialty weapons and accessories. Non reflective, optimum wear resistance and lubricity | Hard and abrasion resistant coating with high temperature resistance developed specifically for high speed and dry machining applications. It is recommended for the machining of work hardening stainless steels, cast iron and hardened die steels up to approximately 60 HRc. |
