Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coating: Process and Applications
The coating enhances the finish of components, and there are various other benefits, like improving performance and adding durability.
Titanium nitride coating is very commonly adopted by many industries to add unique properties to components. You can learn about titanium nitride (TiN) coating in the guide below.
What is Titanium Nitride Coating?
Titanium Nitride (TiN) coating is made using nitrogen and titanium. It helps to enhance the properties of materials like titanium alloys, steel, and carbide. These coatings are used to coat tool steel, which enhances the production benefits.
How Does Titanium Nitride Coating Work?
Titanium nitride coating creates a layer of hard material that is wear-resistant on the surface of a component.
TiN coating is applied on the surface using a process known as physical vapor deposition (PVD) that involves vaporizing the titanium and nitrogen in a small amount in the vacuum chamber. The layer is then deposited on the surface of the component.
The process of PVD has three steps, as stated below.
- The component is subjected to a high-temperature plasma in a vacuum chamber.
- The plasma breaks down the molecules of titanium nitride in ions that are deposited on the material surface.
- When the ions cool down, a layer of TiN is deposited, which creates a wear-corrosion-resistant coating.
The coating has a thickness of a few micrometers, and the rate of deposition is high. The plasma spray process helps manufacture thick coatings.
Benefits of Titanium Nitride Coating
Titanium nitride coating has various benefits, and these are as follows:
- The coating of titanium nitride increases hardness and enhances the adhesion of the component.
- The ductility and lubricity of the components is enhanced by the coating.
- The layer of titanium nitride coating makes the component chemically stable.
- It adds to the wear and temperature resistance so that the component can be subjected to high temperatures.
- It has the ability to make the components resistant to corrosion so that they can be used in moisture-orientated conditions.
What Makes Titanium Nitride Coating Unique?
Titanium nitride coating can maintain stability when subjected to high temperatures. These coatings have high resistance against hardness and oxidation, which makes them suitable for applications that require high thermal conductivity.
It also has a low reflectivity, which makes it a seamless plasmonic absorber used for absorbing solar energy in converters.
They can also be used as catalysts to help fasten the pyrolysis process of hydrocarbons. The coating in golden color is attained in many applications like jewelry and watches.
Applications of Titanium Nitride Coating
There are many applications of titanium nitride coating, and some of these are as follows:
Режущие инструменты
TiN coatings are used in the metalworking industry which provides an improved cutting performance and a durable life of the tool.
These cutting tools are used for machining processes and high-speed cutting. The cutting tools coated with titanium nitride offer excellent surface hardness and resistance against abrasion.
Медицинские имплантаты
Medical implants and other medical devices are also equipped with titanium nitride coating. It is biocompatible and hence prevents the risk of ion release in the body.
Промышленность
TiN coatings offer many properties that are required by industrial applications, like adhesion between materials that are dissimilar. It improves the lubricity in components that slide, wiring system insulation, etc.
Decorative Finishes
TiN coating creates a gold-like lustrous finish, which enhances the durability and appeal of the items. Hence, it is used in items like watches, jewelry, and other luxury goods.
Аэрокосмические компоненты
На сайте аэрокосмическая промышленность applications, TiN coating improves the performance of components that are subjected to extreme environments. It adds to high-temperature resistance, increases wear resistance in moving parts, and reduces friction.
Automotive Components
TiN coating is applied to automobile components which enhances the efficiency and durability of the different parts of vehicles like piston rings, engine valves, and gearbox parts.
TiN vs TiCN
TiN is titanium nitride whereas TiCN is titanium carbonitride– these coatings are used for improving the performance of components and tools. They both have differences in their applications and composition and are primarily selected for most golden colors.
TiN offers wear resistance, hardness, and biocompatibility. It is used in medical implants, decorative goods, and cutting tools.
TiCN has carbon, which improves its hardness and has a low coefficient of friction. TiCN is suitable for such applications that need high wear resistance like heavy-duty components which are subjected to high stress. TiCN has a dark gray color and is less biocompatible.
Choosing the Right Coating for Your Part at DEK
If you are also looking to have your cutting tools or any other parts coated with TiN coating to add durability and enhanced properties to them, contact us at DEK. We offer TiN coating for a versatile range of components with high quality and excellent precision.
Заключение
When applying TiN coating to components, it is important to understand every detail about it. The guide above has compiled all the aspects of titanium nitride coating, which can help you make decisions for your next projects.
Вопросы и ответы
Can titanium nitride go through metal?
Yes, the coating of titanium nitride makes the cutting tools hard enough to go through metals.
How durable is titanium nitride coating?
Applying titanium nitride coating increases the wear resistance, making it durable.
How do you remove titanium nitride coating?
You can remove the titanium nitride coating using a hydrogen peroxide solution.
