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Multilayer CVD Tool Coating

CVD coatings · Chemical bath

Multilayer CVD combines TiN, TiCN, alumina, or related layers to balance adhesion, abrasion resistance, heat shielding, and wear indication on carbide inserts.

CNC machiningHigh cost $$$$Semi-conductive
Quote a part with Multilayer CVDCompare cvd coatings
Multilayer CVD Tool Coating on a machined part

What is Multilayer CVD?

Total thickness is typically 5–20 µm and processing is about 900–1050 °C.

How it works

Sequential gas chemistries grow a bonded stack on hot cemented carbide: a TiN or TiCN interface, abrasion-resistant TiCN, thermally stable alumina, and sometimes a TiN identification or wear layer. Each layer performs a different function. High-temperature conformal growth gives strong coverage but limits substrates and rounds edges more than 1–5 µm PVD systems.

Why specify it

  • Multiple wear mechanisms addressed in one stack
  • 5–20 µm total thickness
  • High hot-cutting durability
  • Conformal carbide-insert coverage

Where it falls short

  • 900–1050 °C process
  • Proprietary stack details vary
  • Thick coating rounds edges
  • High cost and specialist supply

Multilayer CVD at a glance

Multilayer CVD is strongest on surface hardness (88 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionGood62 / 100
Surface hardnessExcellent88 / 100
Cosmetic qualityFair45 / 100
LubricityFair48 / 100
Relative costHigh98 / 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.

Multilayer CVD key numbers

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

Thickness5–20 µm0.2–0.79 mil
Hardness1,800–3,200 HV
Max service temp.1,000 °C1,832 °F
Thickness
10–18 µm total stack
Hardness
1,800–3,200 HV — Layer-dependent; a single stack does not have one uniform hardness.
Electrical
Semi-conductive
Colours
  • gold
  • black
  • grey
Appearance
Layer-dependent; gold TiN, dark alumina, or post-treated grey surfaces are common.

Where Multilayer CVD 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. Multilayer CVD 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 92CVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87HVOF 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 & POWDERCVD TiCNAlTiN PVDType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeDLCTiN PVDTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingMultilayer CVD — corrosion 62, hardness 88Multilayer CVD
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 92CVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87HVOF 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 & POWDERCVD TiCNAlTiN PVDPowder coatZinc plateMultilayer CVD — corrosion 62, hardness 88Multilayer CVD
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for Multilayer CVD

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 APPLY MULTILAYER TiCN/Al2O3/TiN TO CARBIDE INSERT, 10–18 µm TOTAL THICKNESS; PROCESS 900–1050 °C; EDGE HONE 0.03–0.05 mm; POST-COAT EDGE SMOOTH

Which materials take Multilayer CVD?

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 specialty heat-treatment sequences can tolerate CVD.
Aluminum
NoProcess temperature is incompatible.
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
NoProcess temperature 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 Multilayer CVD is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Prepare carbide
  2. 2Deposit bond layer
  3. 3Deposit TiCN wear layer
  4. 4Deposit Al2O3 thermal layer
  5. 5Deposit top layer and post-treat
DimensionsDesign around 5–20 µm total buildup per side and the specified edge hone.
Build-up per side5–20 µm — Allow the total stack thickness on every exposed side.
MaskingUsually needed. Fixture surfaces that must remain uncoated and identify any selective edge treatment.
ElectricalSemi-conductive
Temperature limit1,000 °C (1,832 °F) continuous
AppearanceLayer-dependent; gold TiN, dark alumina, or post-treated grey surfaces are common.
Added lead time10–18 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for Multilayer CVD

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

  1. Specify layer order and total thickness.The term multilayer alone is not inspectable.
  2. Use cemented carbide.The substrate must withstand 900–1050 °C.
  3. Design an edge hone.Thick CVD stacks need supported edges.
  4. Match stack to work material.Abrasion, diffusion, and thermal wear require different layers.

Multilayer CVD versus the alternatives

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

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
Multilayer CVD
this page
628845$$$$5–20 µm—
CVD Titanium Carbonitride
Multilayer CVD vs CVD Titanium Carbonitride →
389240$$$$5–15 µma single abrasion-resistant layer is sufficient
Aluminum Titanium Nitride PVD
Multilayer CVD vs Aluminum Titanium Nitride PVD →
529450$$$$1–5 µmsharp edges and lower process temperature matter
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
Multilayer CVDCVD Titanium Carbonitride

The radar overlays Multilayer CVD with CVD Titanium Carbonitride, its most common alternative — chosen a single abrasion-resistant layer is sufficient. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Multilayer CVD Tool Coating is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 100 % 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 time10–18 working days
RoHSCompliant
NotesFinal ceramic layers are generally RoHS-compliant; reactor gases and exhaust are tightly controlled.

What Multilayer CVD is used for

  • Production turning inserts
  • Milling inserts
  • Cast-iron machining
  • Heavy-duty steel cutting

Multilayer CVD — frequently asked

What is multilayer CVD coating?

It is a sequential stack such as TiCN/Al2O3/TiN on carbide. Total thickness is commonly 5–20 µm.

PVD vs multilayer CVD: which lasts longer?

CVD often lasts longer in hot continuous cutting because it is thicker and includes alumina. PVD keeps sharper edges and avoids the 900–1050 °C CVD cycle.

Why use TiCN and alumina together?

TiCN supplies abrasive-wear resistance, while alumina supplies thermal and chemical stability. A TiN top layer may identify wear.

How thick is a multilayer CVD insert coating?

A typical total stack is 10–18 µm within a broader 5–20 µm range. Every exposed side gains that thickness.

Can multilayer CVD coat aluminum parts?

No; conventional processing near 900–1050 °C is incompatible with aluminum. It is designed chiefly for cemented-carbide inserts.