Alpha's premium quality in the country can boast 25 years of experience, especially in the field of engineering and powder coating. It was developed to provide you with the most durable, most polished, and most consistent finish. The Alpha surface is therefore among the most well-known outer and inner layers, which are extremely hard and multi-purpose at the same time. It usually lasts two to four times longer than titanium carbonitride (TiCN). This nano-layer coating contains a top layer formed by zirconium nitride (ZrN). The individual components alone are not as strong as when the overall surface is combined. The result of this combination is its resistance to abrasion and slipperiness.
The recommended thickness on work surfaces is 0.0001″ – 0.0002″ (2 to 5 microns). The coating thickness is achieved by coating the part multiple times. Edges usually require a larger amount. However, it can happen that if the coating is thicker, there is a higher chance of flaking. There are, however, factors that affect this thickness, namely: process parameters, tool placement in the vacuum chamber, and also tool geometry.
Where it can be used
It has the greatest use in forming, punching, and cutting tools. This is due to its extreme hardness of 4200 to 4600 Hv, plus its lubricity, which is provided by zirconium nitride. Alpha is also advantageous to use to extend the lifespan of the product, improve performance, and improve the appearance of the product.
Typical applications would be firearm components, knife blades, and bicycle parts.
This Alpha coating is even suitable for medical, dental, or food applications. This is because the coating itself is biocompatible, and therefore does not react with blood, tissue, bones, or bodily fluids. As far as the medical sector is concerned, it is FDA approved.
It can also certainly be used as a coating for drills, taps, end mills, reamers, or inserts. It is important that the materials that can be coated include HSS, M2, M4, T15, as well as tool steels, carbide, stainless steels, and others.
What if you want to remove the Alpha coating
If you have decided to remove the coating, you can do so chemically, however, you must take into account that there is a risk of damaging the substrate. This does not mean, however, that you will destroy the tool. If it is a steel alloy, you have a chance to remove it with almost no damage to the surface.
However, you will not be able to remove it from carbide and some other materials. This is caused by the cobalt binder or the substrate material. The costs incurred for removal are approximately 40% of the cost of the coating.
Deposition temperature
The deposition temperature for this coating is 370 - 425 °C. Tools on which Alpha is used are even coated at a temperature of 425 °C. However, this is so high that it can damage certain materials that are not adapted for it.
If you have a tool that cannot withstand such a temperature, you need to take into account that this requires other process adjustments, which will subsequently adversely affect the properties that the Alpha coating has. This concerns adhesion and cycle time.
