What is carbide coating?

Carbide coating can be understood in two ways: one is to cover a layer of carbide on the surface of other steel materials, and the other is to cover a layer of other compounds on the surface of carbide.

Carbide coating involves applying a thin layer of carbide compounds onto various substrates to enhance their surface properties, durability, and performance. This advanced surface treatment technology is widely used in various industrial applications to improve the wear resistance, hardness, and lifespan of tools and components. There are two primary types of carbide coating, each serving distinct functions and applications.

Our factory business: We design, develop and produce powder metallurgy moulds, carbide parts, powder injection moulds, stamping toolings and precision mould parts. Whatsapp:+8618638951317. Email: [email protected], 

First Type: Coating Steel with Carbide

1. Introduction to Coated Carbide

Carbide, known for its high hardness and wear resistance, includes a substrate that is coated with a thin film of carbide-forming materials. These coatings are applied through techniques such as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), and thermal spraying.

2. Classification and Characteristics of Coating Materials

Coating materials like tungsten nitride, tungsten carbide, and titanium nitride are selected based on their unique properties:

• Tungsten Nitride: Offers excellent wear resistance and high-temperature stability, ideal for high-temperature and high-load applications.
• Tungsten Carbide: Known for its extreme hardness and resistance to peeling, suitable for processing a variety of materials including metals and ceramics.
• Titanium Nitride: Used primarily in high-temperature cutting environments, it improves cutting precision and efficiency by reducing wear and corrosion.

3. Material Selection for Specific Applications

The choice of coating material depends on the operational environment. For instance, tungsten nitride is preferred for parts exposed to high temperatures, whereas tungsten carbide is better suited for high-speed cutting operations.

Second Type: Coating Carbide with Other Compounds

This type of coating involves applying wear-resistant compounds such as carbides, nitrides, and oxides onto the surface of carbide tools using deposition methods like PVD, CVD, and plasma deposition. This method aims to enhance the properties of carbide tools further.

Advantages of Coated Carbide:

• Enhanced Hardness and Wear Resistance: Coatings like TiC and TiN significantly increase the surface hardness and wear resistance, thereby extending the tool’s life.
• Increased Cutting Speeds: Coated tools can operate at higher speeds, improving productivity and extending tool life by 1-3 times under the same conditions.
• Reduced Friction and Wear: Low friction coefficients minimize the wear on tools and reduce cutting forces by 10%-15%, easing the machining process.
• Versatility: Coated tools can handle both finishing and semi-finishing operations, which simplifies tool requirements.

Special Coatings like DLC:
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings offer exceptional hardness and a low friction coefficient, making them ideal for applications requiring high performance without lubrication. These coatings are thin enough to avoid altering the dimensions of the part significantly and can substantially increase both the lifespan of the workpiece and overall work efficiency.

Conclusion

Carbide coating is a crucial technology in the tool manufacturing industry, providing significant improvements in tool performance and operational efficiency. Whether enhancing the hardness and wear resistance of steel tools or improving the characteristics of carbide itself, these coatings ensure that tools can meet the demanding conditions of modern industrial applications. By selecting the appropriate type of coating and application method, manufacturers can achieve better results and substantial cost savings.