PVD Coating Properties

Typical Physical Properties of Selected PVD Coatings
TiN CrN TiCN AlTiN black TiCN – bronze TiAlN – bronze ZrN
Hardness HK¹ 2800 2300 3200 3300 3000 3000 2800
Max. Service Temperature2 600ºC / 1100ºF 700ºC / 1300ºF 400ºC / 750ºF 800ºC / 1450ºF 400ºC / 750º F 800ºC / 1450ºF 600ºC / 1100ºF
Coefficient of Friction³ 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.5
Color Gold Silver Gray Black Bronze Bronze Pale Gold
Standard Coatings Standard Standard Standard Standard Special Special Special

1. Knoop or Vickers Microhardness of the coating.

2. Maximum temperature for the coating during usage in air. Above this temperature, the coating oxidizes and failure can occur. In vacuum or reducing atmospheres, the coatings can withstand much higher temperatures.

3.Measured between coated substrate and steel in dry conditions. Note that coefficient of friction is a system property, not a material property. It is dependent on many factors such as material, counter-material, lubrication, temperature, speed, loading force, surface finish, surface finish of the counter-material, and type of motion (reciprocating, rotating). Published values can have large variations.

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