TiN coating (Titanium Nitride) is one of the most advanced surface solutions for extrusion screws used in plastics and rubber processing. Applied using a modern PVD process (Physical Vapor Deposition), the coating creates an extremely hard, wear-resistant, and low-friction protective layer specifically designed for highly demanding extrusion applications.
The characteristic gold-colored TiN surface reliably protects extrusion screws against abrasive wear, material adhesion, and corrosive influences. At the same time, the smooth surface improves melt flow behavior and significantly reduces material build-up during processing.
Properties of TiN Coating
- Very high surface hardness of approx. 2,000–2,500 HV
- Extremely wear and abrasion resistant
- Low coefficient of friction
- Excellent non-stick properties
- High temperature resistance
- Good corrosion resistance
- Thin and dimensionally stable coating
- Premium gold-colored surface finish
- Excellent adhesion to the base material
Due to the minimal coating thickness, the geometry of the extrusion screw remains completely unchanged. At the same time, the hard TiN layer significantly increases the service life of the components — especially when processing abrasive or adhesive materials.
Technical Characteristics
TiN coating is applied under vacuum conditions using PVD technology. During the process, titanium is vaporized and reacts with nitrogen to form a highly durable titanium nitride layer.
Typical properties:
- Hardness: approx. 2,000–2,500 HV
- Coating thickness: approx. 1–5 µm
- Coating temperature: approx. 200–500 °C
- Very low surface roughness
- High adhesion strength
- Temperature resistant up to approx. 600 °C
- High chemical stability
The combination of extreme hardness and low friction makes TiN particularly suitable for highly stressed screw surfaces and sensitive extrusion processes.
Advantages in Plastics and Rubber Processing
TiN-coated extrusion screws are ideally suited for:
- PVC extrusion
- Engineering plastics
- Glass fiber reinforced compounds
- Highly filled materials
- Adhesive polymers
- Medical and high-purity applications
- Color and material changes with demanding cleaning requirements
The smooth surface minimizes material deposits and simplifies screw cleaning. In addition, melt flow and conveying behavior are significantly improved.
Advantages Compared to Uncoated Surfaces
Compared to untreated or only nitrided screws, TiN coating provides substantially higher wear resistance as well as improved sliding and non-stick properties. This results in reduced friction, minimized downtime, and extended maintenance intervals.
Especially when processing abrasive compounds or highly filled plastics, the service life of the extrusion screw can be significantly increased.