PVD Coatings for Cutting Tool Performance

WHAT IS PVD COATING?

PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition, a vacuum-based coating process where a solid material (usually a metal or compound) is vaporized and deposited as a thin film on the surface of a tool. This is done at temperatures typically between 400–600°C, making it suitable for high-speed steel (HSS) and solid carbide tools without compromising their core properties.

The result is a hard, wear-resistant layer that significantly improves cutting performance, reduces friction, and extends tool life — even in high-load or high-heat environments.

HOW PVD COATING WORKS

Vacuum Chamber Preparation
Tools are placed inside a vacuum chamber and cleaned using plasma etching to ensure strong adhesion.
 

Target Material Vaporization
Using arc evaporation or sputtering, the chosen coating material (e.g., Titanium, Chromium, Aluminum) is vaporized under high energy.
 

Reactive Gases Introduced
Gases such as nitrogen or carbon are introduced to react with the vaporized metal, forming compounds like TiN (Titanium Nitride) or AlCrN (Aluminum Chromium Nitride).
 

Thin Film Deposition
The coating atoms condense and form a uniform, dense layer on the tool surface — typically between 1 to 5 microns thick.

OUR CURRENT COATING RANGE

We currently offer the following high-performance coatings:

nACo – Nanocomposite AlTiN-based coating with excellent thermal stability and wear resistance, ideal for dry or high-speed machining of steel and stainless steel.
 

nACo Blue – A refined version of nACo with enhanced oxidation resistance and reduced friction. Recognizable by its distinct blue hue, it’s optimized for versatility across a broad material range.
 

TiN (Titanium Nitride) – A classic golden coating offering balanced hardness, toughness, and low friction. Excellent for general-purpose tools and drilling.

​COMING SOON - TIXCO FOR SUPER ALLOYS

We are expanding our coating capabilities with the introduction of TiXCo, a next-generation coating developed specifically for machining super alloys such as Inconel, Hastelloy, and titanium-based materials. With extreme temperature resistance, low reactivity, and exceptional wear control, TiXCo is ideal for aerospace, energy, and medical applications where standard coatings fall short.