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CVD Titanium Nitride

CVD coatings · Chemical bath

CVD TiN is a thick, conformal gold tool coating used mainly on cemented-carbide inserts.

CNC machiningSheet metalHigh cost $$$$Conductive
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CVD Titanium Nitride on a machined part

What is CVD TiN?

Compared with PVD, conventional CVD runs around 900–1050 °C and deposits about 5–15 µm.

How it works

At roughly 900–1050 °C, gaseous titanium chloride and nitrogen-bearing reactants form TiN on every exposed hot surface. Chemical reaction gives excellent coverage and adhesion, but the high temperature excludes most finished steels, aluminum, and polymers. Cemented-carbide inserts are the principal substrate; edges are often honed to tolerate the thicker film.

Why specify it

  • Conformal 5–15 µm coverage
  • Strong adhesion
  • About 2000–2500 HV hardness
  • Excellent carbide-insert wear life

Where it falls short

  • 900–1050 °C process temperature
  • Thicker and rounder cutting edges than PVD
  • Not for aluminum or finished tool steel
  • Residual tensile stress can affect interrupted cuts

CVD TiN at a glance

CVD TiN is strongest on surface hardness (87 of 100) and cosmetic quality (70 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionFair45 / 100
Surface hardnessExcellent87 / 100
Cosmetic qualityVery good70 / 100
LubricityFair45 / 100
Relative costHigh88 / 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 TiN 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
Hardness2,000–2,500 HV
Max service temp.600 °C1,112 °F
Thickness
7–12 µm
Hardness
2,000–2,500 HV — Typical CVD TiN range.
Electrical
Conductive
Colours
  • gold
Appearance
Gold ceramic film, generally on honed carbide inserts.

Where CVD TiN 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 TiN 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 TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92Multilayer 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 & POWDERTiN PVDMultilayer CVDType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeDLCTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingCVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87CVD TiN
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 TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92Multilayer 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 & POWDERTiN PVDPowder coatZinc plateCVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87CVD TiN
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for CVD TiN

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 SURFACES TiN, 8–12 µm THICK; PROCESS 900–1050 °C; EDGE HONE 0.03–0.05 mm BEFORE COATING

Which materials take CVD TiN?

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 the principal substrate.
Steel
LimitedOnly grades and heat-treatment sequences designed for 900–1050 °C CVD.
Aluminum
NoThe process temperature exceeds aluminum heat-treatment limits.
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
NoTemperature is incompatible.
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 TiN is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Clean carbide inserts
  2. 2Load hot-wall reactor
  3. 3Heat to 900–1050 °C
  4. 4React Ti-bearing gases with nitrogen source
  5. 5Cool and post-treat
DimensionsAllow 5–15 µm per side; edge radii and chipbreaker geometry change measurably.
Build-up per side5–15 µm — CVD adds essentially the full coating thickness per exposed side.
MaskingUsually needed. CVD is conformal; mask or fixture surfaces that must remain uncoated.
ElectricalConductive
Temperature limit600 °C (1,112 °F) continuous
AppearanceGold ceramic film, generally on honed carbide inserts.
Added lead time7–14 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for CVD TiN

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

  1. Restrict conventional CVD to heat-stable substrates.900–1050 °C alters most steels and aluminum.
  2. Hone cutting edges.A 5–15 µm film cannot follow a fragile razor edge reliably.
  3. Compensate chipbreaker geometry.CVD buildup is much thicker than PVD.
  4. Specify post-coat edge treatment if needed.Smoothing can reduce tensile defects.

CVD TiN versus the alternatives

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

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
CVD TiN
this page
458770$$$$5–15 µm—
Titanium Nitride PVD
CVD TiN vs Titanium Nitride PVD →
458788$$$$1–5 µmlower process temperature and sharper edges are required
Multilayer CVD Tool Coating
CVD TiN vs Multilayer CVD Tool Coating →
628845$$$$5–20 µmmaximum insert life needs multiple layers
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
CVD TiNTitanium Nitride PVD

The radar overlays CVD TiN with Titanium Nitride PVD, its most common alternative — chosen lower process temperature and sharper edges are required. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

CVD Titanium Nitride is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 93 % 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 TiN film is generally RoHS-compliant; CVD exhaust gases require industrial treatment.

What CVD TiN is used for

  • Carbide turning inserts
  • Milling inserts
  • Wear inserts
  • Heavy-duty cutting tools

CVD TiN — frequently asked

PVD vs CVD coating: what is the difference?

PVD commonly runs about 200–500 °C and deposits 1–5 µm. Conventional CVD runs about 900–1050 °C and deposits 5–20 µm with more conformal coverage.

How thick is CVD TiN?

Typical CVD TiN is 5–15 µm, often 7–12 µm. That is several times thicker than common PVD TiN.

Can tool steel receive CVD TiN?

Usually not after final heat treatment because 900–1050 °C can change microstructure and dimensions. Cemented carbide is the standard substrate.

Why are carbide inserts CVD coated?

Carbide tolerates the high process temperature and supports the thick hard layer. The coating improves crater and flank wear in continuous cutting.

Is CVD TiN harder than PVD TiN?

Both are hard TiN, commonly near 2000–2500 HV. Architecture, stress, thickness, and adhesion often matter more than a small hardness difference.