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Aluminum Titanium Nitride PVD

PVD hard coatings · Vacuum deposition

AlTiN is a high-aluminum nitride PVD coating for dry, high-speed machining of hardened steels.

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

What is AlTiN PVD?

It is typically about 3500 HV and retains oxidation resistance near 900 °C.

How it works

Reactive PVD deposits an aluminum-rich Al-Ti nitride from metallic targets in nitrogen. Heat at the cutting edge develops a protective alumina scale, while the hardened steel or carbide substrate carries the load. The 200–500 °C deposition cycle must remain below the substrate tempering or aging limit.

Why specify it

  • About 3500 HV hardness
  • Useful to about 900 °C
  • Excellent dry-cutting oxidation resistance
  • 1–5 µm film

Where it falls short

  • Poor first choice for aluminum cutting
  • Needs hard conductive support
  • Can affect low-temperature tempers
  • Precision fits require compensation

AlTiN PVD at a glance

AlTiN PVD is strongest on surface hardness (94 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionFair52 / 100
Surface hardnessExcellent94 / 100
Cosmetic qualityFair50 / 100
LubricityFair42 / 100
Relative costHigh84 / 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.

AlTiN 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
Hardness3,200–3,800 HV
Max service temp.900 °C1,652 °F
Thickness
2–4 µm
Hardness
3,200–3,800 HV — Approximately 3500 HV typical.
Electrical
Semi-conductive
Colours
  • black
  • dark violet
Appearance
Black to dark violet ceramic sheen.

Where AlTiN 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. AlTiN 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 10AlCrN PVD — corrosion 58, hardness 93CrN 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 & POWDERTiAlN PVDTiB2 PVDType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeTiN PVDTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingAlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94AlTiN 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 10AlCrN PVD — corrosion 58, hardness 93CrN 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 & POWDERTiB2 PVDPowder coatZinc plateAlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94AlTiN PVD
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for AlTiN 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 AlTiN, 2–4 µm THICK, BLACK; MAX PROCESS TEMPERATURE 450 °C; MASK FITS

Which materials take AlTiN PVD?

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

Material familyVerdictNotes
Steel
YesUse hardened tool steel.
Tungsten Alloy
YesCommon on cemented carbide.
Stainless Steel
With careQualified pretreatment required.
Titanium
With carePossible with a qualified adhesion layer and a cycle that avoids excessive interstitial pickup.
Aluminum
LimitedLow-temperature deposition only, but coating is not preferred for cutting aluminum.
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
NoOrdinary PVD temperature and conductivity requirements exclude plastics.
Zinc Alloy
NoMelting point is below typical PVD process temperature.

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

  1. 1Clean
  2. 2Ion etch
  3. 3Adhesion layer
  4. 4Reactive AlTiN deposition
  5. 5Inspect
DimensionsA 3 µm film adds about 3 µm per side and 6 µm to an outside diameter.
Build-up per side1–4 µm — Allow +1–4 µm per coated side.
MaskingUsually needed. Mask fits, threads, contacts, and brazed regions if required.
ElectricalSemi-conductive
Temperature limit900 °C (1,652 °F) continuous
AppearanceBlack to dark violet ceramic sheen.
Added lead time5–10 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for AlTiN PVD

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

  1. Pre-harden the substrate.The coating needs load-bearing support.
  2. Avoid for aluminum machining unless validated.Aluminum affinity can cause built-up edge.
  3. Specify maximum process temperature.Tool hardness can be lost by over-tempering.
  4. Mask close fits.Micrometre buildup changes clearance.

AlTiN PVD versus the alternatives

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

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
AlTiN PVD
this page
529450$$$$1–5 µm—
Titanium Aluminum Nitride PVD
AlTiN PVD vs Titanium Aluminum Nitride PVD →
509362$$$$1–5 µma lower-aluminum general-purpose hot coating is adequate
Titanium Diboride PVD
AlTiN PVD vs Titanium Diboride PVD →
409442$$$$1–5 µmmachining aluminum
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
AlTiN PVDTitanium Aluminum Nitride PVD

The radar overlays AlTiN PVD with Titanium Aluminum Nitride PVD, its most common alternative — chosen a lower-aluminum general-purpose hot coating is adequate. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Aluminum Titanium Nitride PVD is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 90 % 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 AlTiN PVD is used for

  • Carbide drills
  • High-speed end mills
  • Hardened-steel cutting
  • Dry machining

AlTiN PVD — frequently asked

AlTiN vs TiAlN: are they the same?

Both are titanium-aluminum nitrides, but AlTiN denotes a higher aluminum fraction. AlTiN is commonly rated around 3500 HV and 900 °C versus about 3300 HV and 800 °C for TiAlN.

How thick is AlTiN PVD?

Typical functional thickness is 1–5 µm, often 2–4 µm. A coated diameter grows by twice the film thickness.

Is AlTiN good for aluminum cutting?

Usually no, because aluminum in the coating can increase adhesion to the aluminum workpiece. TiB2 or DLC is normally preferred.

What temperature can AlTiN withstand?

Typical oxidation or working limits are near 900 °C. Actual life depends on cyclic temperature, coating architecture, and substrate.

Can AlTiN be applied to soft steel?

It can adhere, but performance is poor if the substrate yields under load. Hardened tool steel or carbide is preferred.