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CVD Titanium Carbonitride

CVD coatings · Chemical bath

CVD TiCN is a thick, very hard wear layer used in carbide-insert coating stacks.

CNC machiningSheet metalHigh cost $$$$Conductive
Quote a part with CVD TiCNCompare cvd coatings
CVD Titanium Carbonitride on a machined part

What is CVD TiCN?

Conventional processing is about 900–1050 °C and typical thickness is 5–15 µm.

How it works

Titanium halide, carbon-bearing, and nitrogen-bearing gases react at the hot carbide surface to form TiCN. The reaction coats exposed geometry more conformally than line-of-sight PVD and produces a thick abrasion-resistant layer. High temperature restricts substrates chiefly to cemented carbide or specially sequenced tool steels.

Why specify it

  • About 2800–3200 HV hardness
  • 5–15 µm abrasive-wear layer
  • Conformal coverage
  • Excellent carbide-insert support layer

Where it falls short

  • 900–1050 °C cycle
  • Not for aluminum or polymers
  • Thick film changes edge geometry
  • Lower oxidation resistance than alumina top layers

CVD TiCN at a glance

CVD TiCN is strongest on surface hardness (92 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionFair38 / 100
Surface hardnessExcellent92 / 100
Cosmetic qualityFair40 / 100
LubricityGood55 / 100
Relative costHigh92 / 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.

CVD TiCN key numbers

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

Thickness5–15 µm0.2–0.59 mil
Hardness2,800–3,200 HV
Max service temp.400 °C752 °F
Thickness
7–12 µm
Hardness
2,800–3,200 HV — Typical CVD TiCN range.
Electrical
Conductive
Colours
  • grey
  • blue-grey
Appearance
Grey to blue-grey, normally buried below a TiN or alumina top layer.

Where CVD TiCN 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. CVD TiCN 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 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 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 & POWDERTiCN PVDMultilayer CVDType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeDLCTiN PVDTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingCVD TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92CVD TiCN
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 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 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 & POWDERPowder coatZinc plateCVD TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92CVD TiCN
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for CVD TiCN

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

CVD COAT CARBIDE INSERT TiCN, 8–12 µm THICK, 2800 HV MIN; PROCESS 900–1050 °C; EDGE HONE 0.03–0.05 mm

Which materials take CVD TiCN?

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

Material familyVerdictNotes
Tungsten Alloy
YesCemented carbide is standard.
Steel
LimitedOnly specially sequenced heat-stable tooling.
Aluminum
NoCannot tolerate conventional CVD temperature.
Brass
NoProcess temperature is far above the melting and softening range of brass.
Copper Alloy
NoProcess temperature anneals or melts copper alloys.
Magnesium Alloy
NoProcess temperature is incompatible with magnesium alloys.
Polymer
NoCannot tolerate process temperature.
Stainless Steel
NoThe 900–1050 °C cycle destroys typical stainless tempers and corrosion performance.
Titanium
NoCVD temperature produces severe alpha case and property loss.
Zinc Alloy
NoProcess temperature is incompatible with zinc alloys.

How CVD TiCN is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Clean carbide
  2. 2Heat reactor
  3. 3Deposit TiCN from reactive gases
  4. 4Add top layer if specified
  5. 5Cool and inspect
DimensionsThe 5–15 µm layer changes radii, chipbreakers, and fits.
Build-up per side5–15 µm — Allow full thickness on every exposed side.
MaskingUsually needed. Fixture or mask surfaces that must remain uncoated.
ElectricalConductive
Temperature limit400 °C (752 °F) continuous
AppearanceGrey to blue-grey, normally buried below a TiN or alumina top layer.
Added lead time7–14 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for CVD TiCN

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

  1. Use heat-stable carbide.Conventional CVD reaches 900–1050 °C.
  2. Hone edges before coating.Thick films need supported geometry.
  3. Account for full buildup.Every exposed surface gains 5–15 µm.
  4. Use an alumina top layer for hotter cutting.TiCN oxidizes below alumina's thermal capability.

CVD TiCN versus the alternatives

Finishes engineers weigh against CVD TiCN, and when each wins.

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
CVD TiCN
this page
389240$$$$5–15 µm—
Titanium Carbonitride PVD
CVD TiCN vs Titanium Carbonitride PVD →
409255$$$$1–5 µmsharp edges or lower process temperature are needed
Multilayer CVD Tool Coating
CVD TiCN vs Multilayer CVD Tool Coating →
628845$$$$5–20 µmTiCN should be combined with alumina and TiN
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
CVD TiCNTitanium Carbonitride PVD

The radar overlays CVD TiCN with Titanium Carbonitride PVD, its most common alternative — chosen sharp edges or lower process temperature are needed. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

CVD Titanium Carbonitride is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 95 % 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 time7–14 working days
RoHSCompliant
NotesThe final coating is generally RoHS-compliant; reactor exhaust requires treatment.

What CVD TiCN is used for

  • Carbide turning inserts
  • Gear-cutting inserts
  • Abrasive-material tooling
  • Cold-forming wear inserts

CVD TiCN — frequently asked

CVD TiCN vs PVD TiCN: which is thicker?

CVD TiCN is commonly 5–15 µm, while PVD TiCN is usually 1–5 µm. PVD also uses much lower process temperature.

How hard is CVD TiCN?

Typical hardness is about 2800–3200 HV. Test method and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio affect the result.

Why use TiCN under alumina?

TiCN provides a hard abrasion-resistant base. Alumina above it supplies a thermal and oxidation barrier for hot cutting.

Can CVD TiCN coat steel parts?

Only when the alloy and heat-treatment route are designed around 900–1050 °C exposure. Finished tool steels normally use PVD instead.

Does CVD change insert dimensions?

Yes; 5–15 µm grows on exposed surfaces and rounds edges. Chipbreakers and edge hones must be designed for the coating.