A coating is a thin protective film intended to improve the surface properties of a base material in terms of:
• Hardness
• Oxidation resistance
• Friction
• Fracture toughness
• Chemical stability
• and many other properties depending on the applications
Comparison between a human hair and hard coating:
With just a few microns, the coating on a cutting tool allows for example for faster cutting speeds, resulting in higher productivity and a longer lifespan of the base material.
Comparison of hardness from the softest to the hardest material:
