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Aluminum Chromium Nitride PVD

PVD hard coatings · Vacuum deposition

AlCrN is a dark grey PVD coating for high-temperature cutting, forming, moulding, and die casting tooling.

CNC machiningSheet metalHigh cost $$$$Semi-conductive
Quote a part with AlCrN PVDCompare pvd hard coatings
Aluminum Chromium Nitride PVD on a machined part

What is AlCrN PVD?

Around 3200 HV hardness and oxidation resistance near 1100 °C distinguish it from Ti-based coatings.

How it works

Aluminum and chromium are reactively deposited in nitrogen by arc or sputter PVD. Hot exposure forms protective aluminum- and chromium-rich oxides. The substrate must be conductive, hardened, clean, and stable through a typical 200–500 °C deposition cycle.

Why specify it

  • About 3200 HV hardness
  • Oxidation resistance near 1100 °C
  • Good hot hardness without titanium
  • Useful on cutting and mould tooling

Where it falls short

  • Not a thermal barrier for the bulk part
  • Hard film still needs hard support
  • Arc droplets can affect polish
  • Fits require 1–4 µm per-side allowance

AlCrN PVD at a glance

AlCrN PVD is strongest on surface hardness (93 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionGood58 / 100
Surface hardnessExcellent93 / 100
Cosmetic qualityFair52 / 100
LubricityFair40 / 100
Relative costHigh86 / 100
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy

Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion comes from salt-spray life (ASTM B117, log scale) and hardness from the finish layer's Vickers or pencil hardness; cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Economy on the radar is the inverse of cost.

AlCrN PVD key numbers

Typical values from the governing specifications and shop practice; bars are this finish against the highest value among pvd hard coatings finishes.

Thickness1–5 µm0.04–0.2 mil
Hardness2,900–3,400 HV
Max service temp.1,100 °C2,012 °F
Thickness
2–4 µm
Hardness
2,900–3,400 HV — Approximately 3200 HV typical.
Electrical
Semi-conductive
Colours
  • dark grey
  • anthracite
Appearance
Dark grey to anthracite, satin to semi-gloss.

Where AlCrN PVD sits among all finishes

Surface hardness (Vickers, log scale) against corrosion protection (salt-spray hours, log scale) for every coating FabDigit offers, one cloud per finish group. AlCrN PVD is highlighted; hover a dot for its name or open the full map.

02550751000255075100Corrosion protection (0–100)Surface hardness (HV, log scale, 0–100)Plating — 19 finishesHard coatings — 17 finishesAnodize & conversion — 8 finishesPaint & powder — 7 finisheshard, low corrosion protectionhard and protectiveprotective, softsoft, little protectionType II anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 54BSA anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 52Type I anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 49Hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61PTFE hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61Nitriding — corrosion 55, hardness 73PEO — corrosion 70, hardness 74Sherardizing — corrosion 83, hardness 56Brass plate — corrosion 35, hardness 44Bronze plate — corrosion 40, hardness 49Cadmium plate — corrosion 70, hardness 26Copper plate — corrosion 32, hardness 39Decorative chrome — corrosion 64, hardness 71Electroless copper — corrosion 20, hardness 41Electroless nickel — corrosion 70, hardness 68Nickel plate — corrosion 51, hardness 55Gold plate — corrosion 68, hardness 39Hard chrome — corrosion 40, hardness 73Hot-dip zinc — corrosion 90, hardness 42Nickel-PTFE — corrosion 72, hardness 57Silver plate — corrosion 55, hardness 39Solder plate — corrosion 42, hardness 9Tin plate — corrosion 34, hardness 0Zinc plate — corrosion 60, hardness 30Zinc-nickel — corrosion 86, hardness 60Cerakote — corrosion 83, hardness 27E-coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Epoxy coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Powder coat — corrosion 83, hardness 14Wet paint — corrosion 59, hardness 10AlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94CrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83DLC — corrosion 55, hardness 93MoS2 PVD — corrosion 20, hardness 26TiAlN PVD — corrosion 50, hardness 93TiCN PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 92TiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiN PVD — corrosion 45, hardness 87WC/C PVD — corrosion 48, hardness 77ZrN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 90CVD alumina — corrosion 70, hardness 85CVD TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92CVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87Multilayer CVD — corrosion 62, hardness 88HVOF coating — corrosion 78, hardness 77Plasma spray — corrosion 60, hardness 68Plastic chrome — corrosion 72, hardness 71Electroless plastic — corrosion 58, hardness 39Clear coat — corrosion 20, hardness 12Soft-touch — corrosion 20, hardness 5PLATINGHARD COATINGSANODIZE & CONVERSIONPAINT & POWDERAlTiN PVDCrN PVDType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeTiN PVDTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingAlCrN PVD — corrosion 58, hardness 93AlCrN PVD
02550751000255075100Corrosion protection (0–100)Surface hardness (HV, log scale, 0–100)Plating — 19 finishesHard coatings — 17 finishesAnodize & conversion — 8 finishesPaint & powder — 7 finishesType II anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 54BSA anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 52Type I anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 49Hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61PTFE hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61Nitriding — corrosion 55, hardness 73PEO — corrosion 70, hardness 74Sherardizing — corrosion 83, hardness 56Brass plate — corrosion 35, hardness 44Bronze plate — corrosion 40, hardness 49Cadmium plate — corrosion 70, hardness 26Copper plate — corrosion 32, hardness 39Decorative chrome — corrosion 64, hardness 71Electroless copper — corrosion 20, hardness 41Electroless nickel — corrosion 70, hardness 68Nickel plate — corrosion 51, hardness 55Gold plate — corrosion 68, hardness 39Hard chrome — corrosion 40, hardness 73Hot-dip zinc — corrosion 90, hardness 42Nickel-PTFE — corrosion 72, hardness 57Silver plate — corrosion 55, hardness 39Solder plate — corrosion 42, hardness 9Tin plate — corrosion 34, hardness 0Zinc plate — corrosion 60, hardness 30Zinc-nickel — corrosion 86, hardness 60Cerakote — corrosion 83, hardness 27E-coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Epoxy coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Powder coat — corrosion 83, hardness 14Wet paint — corrosion 59, hardness 10AlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94CrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83DLC — corrosion 55, hardness 93MoS2 PVD — corrosion 20, hardness 26TiAlN PVD — corrosion 50, hardness 93TiCN PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 92TiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiN PVD — corrosion 45, hardness 87WC/C PVD — corrosion 48, hardness 77ZrN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 90CVD alumina — corrosion 70, hardness 85CVD TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92CVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87Multilayer CVD — corrosion 62, hardness 88HVOF coating — corrosion 78, hardness 77Plasma spray — corrosion 60, hardness 68Plastic chrome — corrosion 72, hardness 71Electroless plastic — corrosion 58, hardness 39Clear coat — corrosion 20, hardness 12Soft-touch — corrosion 20, hardness 5PLATINGHARD COATINGSANODIZE & CONVERSIONPAINT & POWDERAlTiN PVDCrN PVDPowder coatZinc plateAlCrN PVD — corrosion 58, hardness 93AlCrN PVD
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for AlCrN PVD

The documents a drawing cites to define this finish, with the Type / Class rows that apply. Each links to a page explaining the standard.

Drawing call-out

PVD COAT DESIGNATED SURFACES AlCrN, 2–4 µm THICK, DARK GREY; MAX PROCESS TEMPERATURE 500 °C; MASK FITS

Which materials take AlCrN PVD?

Verdict per material family, with the grades that behave differently. Each family links to its datasheets in the material library.

Material familyVerdictNotes
Steel
YesHardened tool steel is preferred.
Tungsten Alloy
YesSuitable for carbide tooling.
Stainless Steel
With careUse qualified activation and support hardness.
Titanium
With carePossible with a qualified adhesion layer and a cycle that avoids excessive interstitial pickup.
Aluminum
LimitedLow-temperature PVD only.
Brass
LimitedSoft zinc-bearing alloy; decorative PVD is possible, not a wear-tool substrate.
Copper Alloy
LimitedSoft copper alloys do not support a hard nitride; decorative films need a qualified adhesion layer.
Magnesium Alloy
NoMelting point and reactivity exclude conventional PVD tool-coating cycles.
Polymer
NoRequires metallization and incompatible tool-coating heat remains a concern.
Zinc Alloy
NoMelting point is below typical PVD process temperature.

How AlCrN PVD is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Clean
  2. 2Ion etch
  3. 3Adhesion layer
  4. 4Reactive AlCrN deposition
  5. 5Inspect
DimensionsAdd approximately 1–4 µm per coated side.
Build-up per side1–4 µm — Normal design allowance per coated side.
MaskingUsually needed. Mask precision fits, threads, and polished optical mould regions unless coating is specified there.
ElectricalSemi-conductive
Temperature limit1,100 °C (2,012 °F) continuous
AppearanceDark grey to anthracite, satin to semi-gloss.
Added lead time5–10 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for AlCrN PVD

What to decide on the drawing before the part goes to the finisher.

  1. Confirm tool tempering temperature.The PVD cycle must not soften the tool.
  2. Polish before coating.The thin film reproduces substrate texture.
  3. Specify arc or sputter quality if polish matters.Arc droplets can print through.
  4. Compensate close fits.The film adds measurable size.

AlCrN PVD versus the alternatives

Finishes engineers weigh against AlCrN PVD, and when each wins.

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
AlCrN PVD
this page
589352$$$$1–5 µm—
Aluminum Titanium Nitride PVD
AlCrN PVD vs Aluminum Titanium Nitride PVD →
529450$$$$1–5 µma high-aluminum cutting coating is preferred
Chromium Nitride PVD
AlCrN PVD vs Chromium Nitride PVD →
628376$$$$1–5 µmgreater toughness and silver appearance matter
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
AlCrN PVDAluminum Titanium Nitride PVD

The radar overlays AlCrN PVD with Aluminum Titanium Nitride PVD, its most common alternative — chosen a high-aluminum cutting coating is preferred. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Aluminum Chromium Nitride PVD is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 91 % of the finishes FabDigit quotes.

Finishing is priced per part with a lot minimum, from FabDigit's own China-side rates. The exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.

Lead time and compliance

Added lead time5–10 working days
RoHSCompliant
NotesThe deposited nitride is generally RoHS-compliant.

What AlCrN PVD is used for

  • Hot forging dies
  • Die-casting tools
  • Cutting tools
  • Injection mould components

AlCrN PVD — frequently asked

AlCrN vs AlTiN: which handles more heat?

AlCrN is commonly rated near 1100 °C oxidation resistance, while AlTiN is often rated near 900 °C. Tool life still depends on the work material and cutting cycle.

How hard is AlCrN?

Typical hardness is about 3200 HV, with reported ranges around 2900–3400 HV. Test load and coating architecture affect the number.

How thick is AlCrN PVD?

A typical film is 1–5 µm, often 2–4 µm. Allow the thickness on every coated side.

Can AlCrN coat aluminum parts?

Only with a low-temperature qualified cycle that preserves temper. It is primarily specified on hardened steel and carbide tooling.

Is AlCrN suitable for moulds?

Yes, especially where hot wear and oxidation matter. The mould must be hardened and polished before the 1–5 µm coating is applied.