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Tungsten Carbide Carbon PVD

PVD hard coatings · Vacuum deposition

WC/C is a tungsten-containing hydrogenated amorphous-carbon coating, often written a-C:H:W, for sliding and rolling components.

CNC machiningSheet metalHigh cost $$$$Semi-conductive
Quote a part with WC/C PVDCompare pvd hard coatings
Tungsten Carbide Carbon PVD on a machined part

What is WC/C PVD?

Typical hardness is 1000–1500 HV and dry friction is often about 0.1–0.2.

How it works

PVD or plasma-assisted deposition builds a tungsten-carbide-containing bond or nanocomposite layer with a hydrogenated amorphous-carbon running surface. The tungsten improves adhesion and toughness while carbon lowers shear. Conductive steel or similar substrates are cleaned and ion-etched; low deposition temperatures are available, but the supplier must match the cycle to substrate temper.

Why specify it

  • Dry friction commonly 0.1–0.2
  • About 1000–1500 HV hardness
  • Good scuffing resistance
  • 1–5 µm dimensional film

Where it falls short

  • Tribology depends on counterface and lubricant
  • Lower hot limit than nitrides
  • Humidity can change friction
  • Soft substrates still deform

WC/C PVD at a glance

WC/C PVD is strongest on surface hardness (77 of 100) and lubricity (90 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionFair48 / 100
Surface hardnessVery good77 / 100
Cosmetic qualityFair50 / 100
LubricityExcellent90 / 100
Relative costHigh86 / 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.

WC/C 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
Hardness1,000–1,500 HV
Max service temp.350 °C662 °F
Thickness
2–4 µm
Hardness
1,000–1,500 HV — Architecture-dependent range for tungsten-containing carbon coatings.
Electrical
Semi-conductive
Colours
  • dark grey
  • black
Appearance
Dark grey to black, smooth and low-gloss.

Where WC/C 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. WC/C 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 92TiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiN PVD — corrosion 45, hardness 87ZrN 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 & POWDERDLCMoS2 PVDType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeTiN PVDTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingWC/C PVD — corrosion 48, hardness 77WC/C 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 92TiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiN PVD — corrosion 45, hardness 87ZrN 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 & POWDERDLCMoS2 PVDPowder coatZinc plateWC/C PVD — corrosion 48, hardness 77WC/C PVD
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for WC/C 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 BEARING SURFACES WC/C (a-C:H:W), 2–4 µm TOTAL THICKNESS, COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION TARGET 0.10–0.20 DRY AGAINST POLISHED STEEL; MASK FITS

Which materials take WC/C 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
YesQualified activation is required.
Steel
YesHardened steel is preferred.
Titanium
With careUse an adhesion layer and verify galling pair.
Aluminum
LimitedLow-temperature cycle and hard support required.
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 functional WC/C needs conductive, load-bearing support.
Zinc Alloy
NoMelting point is below typical PVD process temperature.

How WC/C PVD is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Clean
  2. 2Ion etch
  3. 3Deposit tungsten-containing adhesion layer
  4. 4Deposit a-C:H:W running layer
  5. 5Tribology and thickness inspection
DimensionsAllow +1–4 µm per side; finish and geometry of the counterface remain critical.
Build-up per side1–4 µm — Allow the full coating thickness on each coated side.
MaskingUsually needed. Mask fits, threads, electrical contacts, and surfaces requiring controlled friction.
ElectricalSemi-conductive
Temperature limit350 °C (662 °F) continuous
AppearanceDark grey to black, smooth and low-gloss.
Added lead time7–12 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for WC/C PVD

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

  1. Define counterface and lubrication.A friction number without a test pair is incomplete.
  2. Use a hard, polished substrate.Support and roughness control wear.
  3. Keep sustained service below about 350 °C.Hydrogenated carbon degrades at heat.
  4. Mask close fits.Film buildup changes clearance.

WC/C PVD versus the alternatives

Finishes engineers weigh against WC/C PVD, and when each wins.

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
WC/C PVD
this page
487750$$$$1–5 µm—
Diamond-Like Carbon Coating
WC/C PVD vs Diamond-Like Carbon Coating →
559372$$$$1–3 µmhigher hardness or lower friction is required
Molybdenum Disulfide PVD
WC/C PVD vs Molybdenum Disulfide PVD →
202635$$$$1–3 µmhigh-vacuum dry lubrication is primary
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
WC/C PVDDiamond-Like Carbon Coating

The radar overlays WC/C PVD with Diamond-Like Carbon Coating, its most common alternative — chosen higher hardness or lower friction is required. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Tungsten Carbide Carbon PVD is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 91 % 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 tungsten-carbon film is generally RoHS-compliant.

What WC/C PVD is used for

  • Bearings
  • Gears
  • Sliding guides
  • Mechanical seals

WC/C PVD — frequently asked

What is WC/C coating?

It is a tungsten-containing amorphous-carbon system often designated a-C:H:W. Typical hardness is 1000–1500 HV with dry friction around 0.1–0.2.

WC/C vs DLC: what is the difference?

WC/C emphasizes toughness and adhesion through tungsten-containing layers. DLC can reach about 2000–5000 HV and 0.05–0.15 friction, but the exact families overlap.

How thick is WC/C coating?

Typical total thickness is 1–5 µm, often 2–4 µm. Add this amount to each coated side.

What temperature can WC/C withstand?

A conservative continuous-service limit for hydrogenated grades is about 350 °C. Supplier-specific a-C:H:W grades may be rated differently.

Can WC/C coat aluminum?

Only with a low-temperature process and adequate support hardness. Soft aluminum may deform beneath the hard film even when adhesion is good.