Titanium Nitride is an extremely hard, inert, thin film coating that is applied primarily to precision metal parts. Titanium Nitride (TiN) is the most common PVD hard coating in use today. TiN has an ideal combination of hardness, toughness, adhesion and inertness.

Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coating

• Hard (harder than carbide, 3X hard chrome)
• Inert and stable material
• Extremely strong adhesion—molecular bond to substrate metal.
• Broad range of substrates
• Broad range of thicknesses
• Thin film typically 3 µm (0.000118”)thick
• Uniform coating with no buildup on edges
• Follows surface texture of the part.
• High Temperature tolerant
• Electrically conductive and non-oxidizing
• Non-toxic and FDA compliant for implant use.
• Resistant to most chemicals
• Metallic gold appearance
• Conductive – does not oxidize
• Low fatigue—very high compressive stress
• Environmentally friendly process

Use TiN for:

• Eliminates galling, fretting, microwelding, seizing and adhesive wear
• Smooth operation of moving components
• Wear resistance on precision components
• Holds sharp edges or corners
• Cavitation erosion
• Erosion resistance
• Non-stick surface, most materials will not adhere to TiN.
• Low Friction
• Little dimensional impact, perfect for close tolerance parts
• Enhances corrosion resistance but does not perfectly encapsulate the part
• Productivity improvement. Make more parts per hour. Plastic molds fill faster at lower pressures and temperatures. Cutting tools run at faster speeds and feeds.
• Decrease Downtime. Longer life, less frequent tool replacement and cleanup.

Titanium Nitride Coatings General Information

• Thin film coating applied by environmentally safe, Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) vacuum system
• Can be applied to most metals to provide enhanced surface characteristics, and can also be applied to some ceramics and plastics
• Has the appearance of gold, but is an ultra-hard material
• Is harder than carbide and chrome, off the Rockwell C scale.
• Is highly inert – Will not corrode and has excellent chemical resistance.
• Can withstand elevated temperatures up to 600°C (1,100°F) in air.
• Is non-toxic—used for medical surgical devices and food processing equipment
• Is dense and non-porous
• Is typically 3 micrometers or .0001” thick
• Has a uniform thickness that follows the contour of the part’s surface
• Forms an outstanding bond to the base material that will not blister, flake or chip
• Tools typically last 3 to 10 times longer than uncoated tools.

Other TiN information:

TiN Coatings Physical Properties Chart

TiN Coatings for Erosion Resistance

• Check out these helpful resources:
• PVD Process Description
• Guide to Substrate Preparation for thin film coatings
• Thickness Conversion Chart
• Temperature Conversion Chart