Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN)
TiCN is a member of the titanium nitride family with carbon alloyed into the lattice, deposited by PVD. The carbon pushes hardness well above plain TiN and lowers sliding friction, while keeping enough toughness to survive interrupted, high-load work. It exists to fill the gap between TiN's general-purpose duty and the heat-resistant aluminum-bearing nitrides: harder and slicker than TiN, but with a low oxidation ceiling that keeps it out of dry, high-temperature machining.
What the numbers say
- Hardness ~3,000–4,000 HV (typical ~3,500). Markedly harder than TiN. The ~1,000 HV band is a genuine spread across vendor datasheets and microhardness test loads. [minitools, gpa, eifeler]
- Max service ~400°C (range 400–500°C), oxidation-limited in air. This low ceiling is TiCN's defining constraint — most sources cluster at 400–420°C, with one vendor quoting up to 500°C. [minitools, eifeler, brycoat, gpa]
- Coefficient of friction ~0.3 against steel (range 0.2–0.38). Counterface is steel — 100Cr6 bearing steel for two of three sources; test conditions are not stated. [minitools, eifeler, gpa]
- Thickness 1–5 µm (typical ~3 µm); deposited 200–500°C (typical ~450°C) as a process/substrate temperature. [minitools, eifeler, brycoat, gpa]
Where it fits
TiCN suits tapping, thread forming, and high-load punching, stamping, and cold-forming dies — work where you need more hardness and anti-cold-welding behavior than TiN gives, plus enough toughness to take interrupted loads. It also performs on cutting tools for non-ferrous and abrasive materials. The hard limit is heat: with an oxidation ceiling around 400°C it is the wrong choice for dry or high-speed machining, where TiAlN/AlCrN take over.
Vendor-neutral note: these are general process properties for understanding tradeoffs — not a specification for your application. Real selection needs a coating house with your substrate, geometry, and duty data.