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Looking for info on TiN and TiCN coatings

Q. I am wondering about the qualities of TiN and TiCN treated steel surfaces(4140 and 416) with regard to lubricity, attainable tolerances, and the possibility of galling between two similarly treated parts. The application will be a shaft and bushing subject to linear motion and temperatures up to 350F in short intervals. The load on the bushing will be under 50 pounds, but near zero wear is the primary goal.

Thank you for your time.

Howard Bailey
- Custom Body Jewelry, Flagstaff, Arizona
1998

A. The coatings you mentioned are very hard and are suitable for wear reduction applications at the temperatures of interest. However, to be able to withstand loads, they need to be coated on a hard substrate. Otherwise these will crumble like an egg-shell. Most of these coatings are under 2 microns thick.

For the particular application you mentioned, you need to consult with the vacuum coating job shops. You may contact www.svg.org for a list.

Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
1998

Ed. note: Yes, Mandar, but there are also some listed in our jobshops directory right here -- just look for 'vacuum'.

Can you tell me the coefficient of friction for TiCN wear coating?

Josh Miller
- Purdue University - Indiana
1999

I know TiCN can be ranged from brown to blue in colour. What are the key factors, says bias voltage or coating temperature, contribute the colour result in arc ion plating?

Wallace Ng
- Hong Kong
2003