TiCrN PVD
COATINGS.
TiCrN PVD coatings deliver exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and anti-galling performance for Inconel, brass, bronze, and forming applications.
Request a QuoteTiCrN PVD Coating
TiCrN, or Titanium Chromium Nitride, is a high-performance PVD coating engineered for applications requiring greater hardness than conventional TiN or CrN while maintaining excellent toughness and resistance to material pickup. The coating combines high abrasion resistance with outstanding anti-galling properties, making it an excellent solution for both cutting and metal-forming applications.
North Star Coating recommends TiCrN for machining Inconel, brass, and bronze, along with piercing and forming operations where built-up edge, galling, and adhesive wear shorten tool life. Because TiCrN is approximately 25% harder than conventional CrN and TiN coatings while being deposited at a relatively low coating temperature, it is also an excellent choice for carbide-tipped tooling and precision tools that require dimensional stability during the coating process.
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TiCrN Coating Properties
TiCrN combines exceptional hardness, abrasion resistance, and anti-galling performance for demanding machining and metal-forming applications.
Coating Color
Light Gold
Produces a light gold finish suitable for carbide cutting tools, punches, dies, and precision forming tooling.
Surface Hardness
4,000 HV
Approximately 25% harder than conventional CrN and TiN coatings, providing exceptional resistance to abrasive wear and edge deterioration.
Oxidation Temperature
Up to 1,100°F
Provides dependable protection in machining and forming operations that generate elevated cutting temperatures.
Applications for TiCrN Coatings
TiCrN is designed for cutting and forming applications where abrasion, adhesive wear, galling, and material pickup limit tooling performance and production consistency.
Inconel Machining
Protects carbide tooling from severe heat and abrasion while machining nickel-based superalloys that rapidly wear conventional cutting edges.
Brass Machining
Reduces material pickup and built-up edge when machining brass, helping maintain cleaner cutting edges and consistent surface finishes.
Bronze Machining
Provides excellent wear resistance and minimizes adhesion while machining bronze alloys used in bushings, bearings, and industrial components.
Metal Piercing
Protects piercing punches from abrasive wear, impact loading, and edge breakdown during high-volume stamping operations.
Forming Dies
Reduces galling and adhesive wear on tooling exposed to repeated sliding contact while forming difficult production materials.
Carbide-Tipped Tooling
The relatively low coating temperature helps preserve brazed joints and dimensional stability on precision carbide-tipped tools.
Why Choose TiCrN Coating?
TiCrN combines exceptional hardness with excellent anti-galling characteristics and material pickup resistance, making it an ideal coating for machining and forming operations where adhesive wear is a primary cause of tooling failure.
25% Harder Than CrN and TiN
North Star's TiCrN coating reaches approximately 4,000 HV, making it roughly 25% harder than conventional CrN and TiN. The additional hardness improves resistance to abrasive wear, edge rounding, and surface damage during demanding production operations.
Excellent Galling Resistance
TiCrN is engineered to minimize galling, a form of adhesive wear where workpiece material welds to the tooling surface under high pressure. Reducing galling helps maintain dimensional accuracy, improves part quality, and extends the useful life of forming and piercing tools.
Resists Built-Up Edge and Material Pickup
Material pickup and built-up edge can alter cutting geometry, increase cutting forces, and reduce surface finish. TiCrN helps maintain a cleaner cutting edge by reducing the tendency of materials such as brass, bronze, and Inconel to adhere to the tool during machining.
Excellent for Difficult Non-Ferrous Alloys
TiCrN performs exceptionally well on brass and bronze while also providing dependable wear resistance when machining demanding nickel-based alloys such as Inconel. Its combination of hardness and low material affinity helps improve cutting consistency across a broad range of production materials.
Low Coating Temperature
Because TiCrN is deposited at a relatively low coating temperature, it is well suited for carbide-tipped tooling and other precision assemblies where minimizing thermal distortion is important. Lower process temperatures help preserve critical dimensions while still providing the benefits of a hard PVD coating.
Versatile Protection for Machining and Forming
TiCrN bridges the gap between cutting-tool coatings and forming coatings by combining high hardness, excellent wear resistance, impact durability, and resistance to adhesive wear. This makes it an excellent solution for punches, dies, carbide tooling, piercing operations, and machining applications where multiple wear mechanisms are present simultaneously.
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.