FabDigitFabDigit

Chromium Nitride PVD

PVD hard coatings · Vacuum deposition

CrN is a silver-grey, tough PVD coating used on plastic moulds, forming tools, medical instruments, and anti-galling components.

CNC machiningSheet metalHigh cost $$$$Conductive
Quote a part with CrN PVDCompare pvd hard coatings
Chromium Nitride PVD on a machined part

What is CrN PVD?

It is typically about 1800 HV and useful to about 700 °C.

How it works

Chromium is arc-evaporated or sputtered in nitrogen and condenses as CrN on an ion-cleaned conductive substrate. CrN is less hard but generally tougher than many titanium-aluminum nitrides. The substrate should be hardened where wear loads are high and must tolerate the selected 200–500 °C PVD cycle.

Why specify it

  • About 1800 HV hardness
  • Silver metallic appearance
  • Good toughness and release
  • Useful to about 700 °C

Where it falls short

  • Lower hardness than TiCN or AlCrN
  • Thin film cannot repair pits
  • Needs conductive temperature-stable support
  • Buildup affects precision fits

CrN PVD at a glance

CrN PVD is strongest on surface hardness (83 of 100) and cosmetic quality (76 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionGood62 / 100
Surface hardnessVery good83 / 100
Cosmetic qualityVery good76 / 100
LubricityGood55 / 100
Relative costHigh75 / 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.

CrN 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
Hardness1,600–2,000 HV
Max service temp.700 °C1,292 °F
Thickness
2–4 µm
Hardness
1,600–2,000 HV — Approximately 1800 HV typical.
Electrical
Conductive
Colours
  • silver
  • silver-grey
Appearance
Silver to silver-grey with the original polish visible.

Where CrN 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. CrN 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 93AlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94DLC — 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 & POWDERAlCrN PVDTiN PVDType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeDLCTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingCrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83CrN 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 93AlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94DLC — 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 & POWDERAlCrN PVDTiN PVDPowder coatZinc plateCrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83CrN PVD
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for CrN 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 CrN, 2–4 µm THICK, SILVER-GREY; MAX PROCESS TEMPERATURE 450 °C; MASK FITS

Which materials take CrN PVD?

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

Material familyVerdictNotes
Stainless Steel
YesSuitable after activation; a common mould and anti-galling substrate.
Steel
YesSuitable on hardened tool steel.
Titanium
With careQualified adhesion layer required.
Aluminum
LimitedLow-temperature cycle 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
NoOrdinary PVD requires conductive, temperature-stable support.
Zinc Alloy
NoMelting point is below typical PVD process temperature.

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

  1. 1Clean and polish
  2. 2Ion etch
  3. 3Deposit Cr adhesion layer if specified
  4. 4Reactive CrN deposition
  5. 5Inspect
DimensionsA 2–4 µm coating adds the same amount per coated side.
Build-up per side1–4 µm — Allow +1–4 µm per coated side.
MaskingUsually needed. Mask fits, threads, contacts, and uncoated mould shutoffs.
ElectricalConductive
Temperature limit700 °C (1,292 °F) continuous
AppearanceSilver to silver-grey with the original polish visible.
Added lead time5–10 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for CrN PVD

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

  1. Finish the substrate before coating.CrN follows existing texture.
  2. Use hardened support for loaded wear surfaces.The coating cannot prevent substrate indentation.
  3. Specify the temperature limit.PVD can alter heat treatment.
  4. Mask mating fits.Diameter changes by twice film thickness.

CrN PVD versus the alternatives

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

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
CrN PVD
this page
628376$$$$1–5 µm—
Aluminum Chromium Nitride PVD
CrN PVD vs Aluminum Chromium Nitride PVD →
589352$$$$1–5 µmgreater hot hardness is required
Titanium Nitride PVD
CrN PVD vs Titanium Nitride PVD →
458788$$$$1–5 µmgold colour and higher hardness are preferred
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
CrN PVDAluminum Chromium Nitride PVD

The radar overlays CrN PVD with Aluminum Chromium Nitride PVD, its most common alternative — chosen greater hot hardness is required. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Chromium Nitride PVD is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 80 % 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
NotesCrN itself is generally RoHS-compliant; it is not hexavalent chromium.

What CrN PVD is used for

  • Plastic injection moulds
  • Forming tools
  • Medical instruments
  • Anti-galling components

CrN PVD — frequently asked

CrN vs TiN: which coating is better?

CrN is typically about 1800 HV and silver, while TiN is about 2300 HV and gold. CrN is often selected for toughness, release, and anti-galling.

How thick is CrN coating?

CrN PVD is commonly 1–5 µm, with 2–4 µm typical. It adds that thickness to each coated side.

What temperature can CrN withstand?

A typical working limit is about 700 °C. Oxidation life changes with atmosphere and thermal cycling.

Is CrN good for injection moulds?

Yes; its toughness and release behavior suit hardened mould components. Polish first because a 2–4 µm coating does not hide machining texture.

Can aluminum be CrN coated?

Yes only with a cycle qualified below the alloy's aging limit. Conventional PVD heat can reduce aluminum temper strength.