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Titanium Diboride PVD

PVD hard coatings · Vacuum deposition

TiB2 is a hard grey PVD coating chosen mainly to resist aluminum adhesion on cutting and forming tools.

CNC machiningSheet metalHigh cost $$$$Conductive
Quote a part with TiB2 PVDCompare pvd hard coatings
Titanium Diboride PVD on a machined part

What is TiB2 PVD?

Typical hardness is about 3000–4000 HV with a 1–5 µm film.

How it works

TiB2 is sputtered or arc-deposited from a boride target onto an ion-cleaned, conductive, hardened tool or carbide substrate. Its low chemical affinity for molten and machined aluminum reduces built-up edge. The substrate must tolerate the supplier's PVD cycle, normally within about 200–500 °C.

Why specify it

  • About 3000–4000 HV hardness
  • Low affinity for aluminum
  • Sharp-edge 1–5 µm film
  • Good abrasive-wear resistance

Where it falls short

  • Brittle if poorly supported
  • Specialist coating availability
  • Not a corrosion coating
  • Process heat limits aluminum substrates

TiB2 PVD at a glance

TiB2 PVD is strongest on surface hardness (94 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionFair40 / 100
Surface hardnessExcellent94 / 100
Cosmetic qualityFair42 / 100
LubricityGood65 / 100
Relative costHigh90 / 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.

TiB2 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
Hardness3,000–4,000 HV
Max service temp.700 °C1,292 °F
Thickness
2–4 µm
Hardness
3,000–4,000 HV — Supplier and deposition dependent.
Electrical
Conductive
Colours
  • grey
  • silver-grey
Appearance
Grey to silver-grey ceramic film.

Where TiB2 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. TiB2 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 94CrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83DLC — corrosion 55, hardness 93MoS2 PVD — corrosion 20, hardness 26TiAlN PVD — corrosion 50, hardness 93TiCN PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 92TiN 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 & POWDERDLCType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeTiN PVDTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingTiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiB2 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 94CrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83DLC — corrosion 55, hardness 93MoS2 PVD — corrosion 20, hardness 26TiAlN PVD — corrosion 50, hardness 93TiCN PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 92TiN 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 & POWDERPowder coatZinc plateTiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiB2 PVD
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for TiB2 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 CUTTING SURFACES TiB2, 2–4 µm THICK; SUBSTRATE HARDNESS 58 HRC MIN; MAX PROCESS TEMPERATURE 450 °C; MASK SHANK FITS

Which materials take TiB2 PVD?

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

Material familyVerdictNotes
Steel
YesHardened tooling is standard.
Tungsten Alloy
YesCommon on carbide tools.
Stainless Steel
With careSupport hardness and adhesion must be qualified.
Titanium
With carePossible with a qualified adhesion layer and a cycle that avoids excessive interstitial pickup.
Aluminum
LimitedLow-temperature cycle only; uncommon as a substrate.
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
NoNot suitable for ordinary tool-coating PVD.
Zinc Alloy
NoMelting point is below typical PVD process temperature.

How TiB2 PVD is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Edge preparation
  2. 2Clean
  3. 3Ion etch
  4. 4TiB2 deposition
  5. 5Inspect
DimensionsAllow coating thickness per side and hone cutting edges to the coating supplier's specification.
Build-up per side1–4 µm — Allow +1–4 µm per coated side.
MaskingUsually needed. Mask fits, threads, and cutting surfaces not designated for coating.
ElectricalConductive
Temperature limit700 °C (1,292 °F) continuous
AppearanceGrey to silver-grey ceramic film.
Added lead time7–12 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for TiB2 PVD

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

  1. Use a hard substrate.TiB2 is brittle over yielding support.
  2. Prepare cutting edges before coating.The film reproduces edge defects.
  3. State the work material.TiB2 is selected especially for aluminum anti-adhesion.
  4. Mask precision shanks.Micrometre buildup affects toolholders.

TiB2 PVD versus the alternatives

Finishes engineers weigh against TiB2 PVD, and when each wins.

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
TiB2 PVD
this page
409442$$$$1–5 µm—
Diamond-Like Carbon Coating
TiB2 PVD vs Diamond-Like Carbon Coating →
559372$$$$1–3 µmlower sliding friction is more important
Zirconium Nitride PVD
TiB2 PVD vs Zirconium Nitride PVD →
529092$$$$1–5 µmdecorative light-gold colour is required
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
TiB2 PVDDiamond-Like Carbon Coating

The radar overlays TiB2 PVD with Diamond-Like Carbon Coating, its most common alternative — chosen lower sliding friction is more important. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Titanium Diboride PVD is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 94 % 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 time7–12 working days
RoHSCompliant
NotesThe deposited boride is generally RoHS-compliant.

What TiB2 PVD is used for

  • Aluminum cutting inserts
  • End mills for non-ferrous alloys
  • Aluminum forming dies
  • Mould components

TiB2 PVD — frequently asked

What is the best PVD coating for cutting aluminum?

TiB2 is a common choice because it has low chemical affinity for aluminum. DLC is another option where low friction is primary.

How hard is TiB2 coating?

Typical reported hardness is about 3000–4000 HV. A hard steel or carbide substrate is still required.

How thick is TiB2 PVD?

Most functional films are 1–5 µm, commonly 2–4 µm. Tool dimensions should include that buildup.

TiB2 vs TiAlN for aluminum machining?

TiB2 is generally preferred because it resists aluminum adhesion. TiAlN contains aluminum and can encourage built-up edge.

Can TiB2 be applied to aluminum parts?

Only with a low-temperature qualified cycle, but that is not its normal use. It is primarily deposited on hard tooling that cuts or forms aluminum.