The base material plays a crucial role in the performance of a screw tap, directly affecting its **quality and durability**. However, it's not just the material that matters — the surrounding processes also significantly influence the tool’s characteristics and overall quality. Since the surface is the part most exposed to wear and corrosion, most screw taps undergo **surface treatments or coatings** before being sold.
Surface treatments and coatings offer numerous benefits. They increase the **resilience against wear and environmental influences**, which can greatly extend the lifespan of the taps. Additionally, they improve surface quality and allow for higher cutting speeds. Some coatings are tailored to specific materials or conditions, making them ideal for special applications.
Today, there are many variations and combinations of screw tap coatings available. If you're looking for custom solutions, BAER, a leading manufacturer of screw taps, offers a wide range of options. In this article, we'll explore the most common surface treatments and coatings used in the industry.
### The Most Common Surface Treatments
Surface treatments alter the **material properties** of the screw tap without adding any additional layers. Here are some commonly used methods:
#### Nitriding
Nitriding involves exposing the screw tap to a **nitrogen-rich atmosphere** under heat, forming a hard surface layer. This treatment improves hardness, wear resistance, and sliding properties. It's especially effective for materials like cast iron, high-perlite steels, titanium alloys, and certain aluminum-silicon alloys.
#### Vaporizing
Vaporizing is a **steam-based treatment** that creates a crystalline iron oxide layer on the tap's surface. This reduces friction and allows better adhesion of lubricants, preventing buildup and cold welding. However, it is only suitable for **iron-based materials**.
#### Calduring
Calduring combines **nitriding and vaporizing**, offering dual benefits. It's particularly useful when working with tough and abrasive materials.
#### Hard Chromium Plating
This process applies a **hard chrome layer** through electrolysis, improving sliding properties and reducing surface roughness. It's often used for machining **low-strength materials** such as copper and its alloys. However, it should be applied at temperatures below 250°C to maintain effectiveness.
### The Most Common Screw Tap Coatings
For improving surface properties, **coatings** are often the most economical and environmentally friendly option. One of the most widely used coating methods is **PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition)**, which involves depositing a thin layer of material onto the tool in a vacuum environment.
#### PVD Process
In the PVD process, the coating material is first turned into a gas and then deposited onto the screw tap. This creates a durable and high-performance surface layer.
#### TiN (Titanium Nitride)
TiN has a **gold-yellow color** and offers excellent hardness (2,200 HV) and heat resistance (up to 600°C). It's a general-purpose coating suitable for soft to medium-hard steels, cast iron, and non-ferrous metals. Tools coated with TiN can be recoated up to five times.
#### TiCN (Titanium Carbonitride)
TiCN is known for its **high hardness and toughness**, making it ideal for **high mechanical stress** environments. It has a micro-hardness of 3,000 HV and is resistant to impact, making it perfect for interrupted cuts. However, it has limited heat resistance, so proper cooling is essential.
#### TiAIN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride)
TiAIN has a **black-violet color** and offers even greater hardness (3,300 HV) and heat resistance (up to 800°C). Its **chemical stability** and **heat resistance** make it ideal for high-speed cutting and difficult-to-machine materials. Like TiN, it can also be recoated multiple times.
#### Other Coatings
Beyond these standard options, there are many other coatings tailored for specific applications. For example, **X. TREME** combines the benefits of TiN, TiCN, and TiAIN, while **CrN (Chromium Nitride)** offers excellent thermal stability and corrosion resistance.
If you're unsure about which surface treatment or coating is best for your project, feel free to reach out to us. At BAER, our customer service team is always ready to help you find the right solution. All the coatings mentioned above are available in our online shop, or we can quickly produce custom-coated taps based on your specifications. Let us help you achieve the best results for your next project!
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