Titanium Nitride (TiN)

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Titanium Nitride is a bright gold ceramic coating applied to metallic surfaces by the physical vapour deposition (PVD) process. The coating has high hardness and low friction combined with moderate resistance to oxidisation.

Tecvac produces TiN coatings Using a process of electron beam evaporation under vacuum at a work piece temperature of about 480°C. This method of manufacturer results in coatings which are very smooth and require no post coating processing.

TiN coatings are widely used To improve the life and performance of cutting and press tools. The high hardness and low friction characteristics of the coating combine to make the coating extremely cost effective in the general reduction of tool wear.

TiN is avery versatile product And since its introduction as a wear reduction coating during the 1980s it has become the 'workhorse' of the coatings industry.

Uses include The coating of cutting tools, shaper cutters, drills, taps, dies, mills and press tools of all types.

The coating has a very attractive bright gold colour, and this distinctive feature has resulted in TiN also being used in a number of decorative applications.

• Cutting Tools - drills, mills, reamers and taps
• Gear cutting tools - hobs and shaper cutters
• Plastic moulding tools - especially high finish tools
• Press tools - stamping and cold forming

Typical Properties

• Appearance: Bright gold metallic colour
• Coating Thickness: 1-4 µm
• Hardness: 2300 Hv
• Melting Point: 2800°C
• Max Operating Temp: 500°C
• Structure: face centered cubic
• Lattice Parameter: 4.212A
• Molecular Weight 61.9
• Hardness: 2600 HV (0.01) approx.
• Melting point 2950 deg C
• Density: 5.42 m/cm3
• Thermal Conductivity 0.07 cal/cm sec.deg. at 100°C
  - 0.019 cal/cm sec.deg. at 600 deg
• Electrical Resisitivity: 24 µ ohm cm
• Electrical Conductivity 0.042 (µ ohm cm)-1
• Temperature Coefficient 950 ppm.K-1
• Linear thermal Expansion coefficient 8.5 x 10-6 K-1
• Friction Coefficient TiN/TiN 0.08 - 0.25 (Static)
  - TiN/TiN 0.05 - 0.15 (dynamic)
  - Tin/HSS 0.25 - 0.35 (Static)
• Elastic modulus 600 Gpa
• Corrosion Resistance: Chemically very inert, insoluble in all acids except HF. Insoluble in all alkalis. Oxidation resistance in air to 400 deg C
• Toxicity: used in medical prosthesis , US Food & Drug Administration has no objection to the use of TiN in the food processing industry.