TiCN PVD
COATINGS.
TiCN PVD coatings deliver outstanding wear resistance, low friction, and longer tool life for cutting, punching, and forming applications.
Request a QuoteTiCN PVD Coating
TiCN, or Titanium Carbonitride, is a hard, impact-resistant PVD coating developed for metalworking applications that combine abrasion, sliding contact, and repeated mechanical loading. Its balance of high surface hardness and toughness makes it useful for both forming tools and cutting tools.
North Star Coating recommends TiCN for punching steel or aluminum, tight-radius drawing, forming, and slow- to medium-speed machining. The coating also performs well during interrupted cutting, where the cutting edge repeatedly enters and exits the workpiece and must withstand cyclical impact loads.
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TiCN Coating Properties
TiCN combines high surface hardness, impact resistance, and dependable wear protection for demanding forming, punching, and machining applications.
Coating Color
Pink / Grey
Produces a distinctive pink-to-grey finish on coated punches, forming tools, drills, and carbide cutting tools.
Surface Hardness
4,000 HV
Provides exceptional resistance to abrasive wear while protecting working surfaces and cutting edges during repeated production cycles.
Oxidation Temperature
Up to 750°F
Supports slow- to medium-speed cutting and metal-forming applications where operating temperatures remain within the coating’s thermal range.
Applications for TiCN Coatings
TiCN is well suited for tooling exposed to abrasion, impact, sliding contact, and material adhesion during punching, drawing, forming, and controlled-speed machining.
Steel Punching
Protects punches from abrasive edge wear and repeated impact as they penetrate steel sheet during high-volume production.
Aluminum Punching
Provides a hard, smooth working surface that helps limit wear and material buildup while punching aluminum components.
Tight-Radius Drawing
Helps tooling resist pressure, sliding wear, and material transfer where sheet metal moves across compact radii during drawing operations.
Forming Tools
Protects forming surfaces exposed to repeated contact pressure and sliding movement while shaping a variety of production materials.
Slow to Medium-Speed Cutting
Provides high wear resistance for cutting tools operated at speeds that remain within TiCN’s recommended thermal range.
Interrupted Cutting
TiCN’s impact resistance supports tools that repeatedly enter and exit the workpiece while machining slots, cast surfaces, and other interrupted geometries.
Why Choose TiCN Coating?
TiCN provides a hard, impact-resistant surface for tooling that must withstand abrasion, repeated contact, sliding pressure, and interrupted mechanical loading.
Exceptional Surface Hardness
TiCN reaches approximately 4,000 ±200 HV, creating a hard working surface that resists abrasive wear and helps protect critical tool geometry.
High Impact Resistance
The coating withstands repeated mechanical loading, making it suitable for punches, forming tools, and cutting edges exposed to intermittent contact.
Abrasion Resistance
TiCN helps protect tooling from gradual surface loss caused by hard particles, workpiece contact, and repeated movement across the coated surface.
Protection During Interrupted Cutting
Impact resistance helps the coating tolerate the repeated engagement and disengagement that occurs when a cutting edge passes across interrupted workpiece surfaces.
Drawing and Forming Performance
TiCN protects tight-radius drawing and forming surfaces where high contact pressure and sliding movement can cause wear, scoring, and material transfer.
Controlled-Speed Machining
TiCN is well suited for slow- to medium-speed cutting where its high hardness and impact resistance can be used without exceeding its approximately 750°F oxidation temperature.
Let's Find the Right PVD Coating for Your Application
Whether you're coating cutting tools, dies, molds, or wear components, our team can recommend the best coating for your manufacturing process.