Bowman XRF coating analysis systems measure these applications:

Cutting tools such as drill bits, taps, hobs, and much more all need to meet specific material requirements to be effective. They must be harder than the material of the workpiece and remain so at working temperatures, as well as resistant to bending, wear, and corrosion. While materials such as tool steels and tungsten alloys check many boxes, they are not perfect and are still susceptible to their working environment. To prolong the lifespan of cutting tools, platers can add a variety of coatings to increase their resiliency, with some of the most popular being PVD coatings.

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings – the most common for cutting tools being metal ceramic materials such as titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), chromium nitride (CrN), and more – can increase tooling lifespan by 3 to 10 times. These coatings have superior edge retention and corrosion resistance, while their smoothness greatly reduces friction and galling. Additionally, they come in a variety of colors to differentiate themselves aesthetically from their uncoated counterparts. PVD processes for these coatings work by evaporating and ionizing a solid metal source in a vacuum chamber, while introducing a reactive gas to form the coating material that condenses on the tool surface. The resulting coating is very thin – typically ranging from 0.0001'-0.0005' (2.5-12.5 microns).

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) allows for a quick and reliable method to accurately measure the thickness of PVD coatings, as well as identify the composition of the tool alloy underneath. Additionally, XRF is non-destructive and has much faster cycle times and minimal sample preparation, generating results in seconds. All of Bowman’s XRF systems are equipped with Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) with lower detection limits and higher resolution, making them the ideal tool for process and quality control.

Read our application notes to learn more!