9 SOLID HSS MILLS – SURFACE TREATMENTS AND COATINGS NAVIGATOR Surface Treatments Bright Bright finish (uncoated surface) improves chip flow in soft or non-ferrous materials and maintains sharp cutting edges in abrasive (uncoated) Bright materials. Steam Tempering Steam tempering gives a strongly adhering blue oxide surface that acts to retain cutting fluid and prevent chip to tool welding, therebySTcounteracting the formation of a built-up edge. Steam tempering can be applied to any bright tool but is most effective on drills and taps. Surface Coatings The Alcrona (AlCrN) family of coatings are aluminium chromium nitride coatings mostly used for milling cutters. The two unique Alcrona Coating properties of these coatings are high hot hardness and high oxidation resistance. When used on tools for machining applications involving (Alcrona) heavy mechanical and thermal stresses, these properties translate into superior wear resistance. Multiple levels or specific versions of these coatings are available and specific for various tools and applications. Titanium Carbon Titanium Carbon Nitride is a ceramic coating applied by PVD coating technology. TiCN is harder than TiN and has a lower coefficient of Nitride Coating friction. Its hardness and toughness in combination with good wear resistance ensures that it finds its principal application in the field of (TiCN) milling to enhance the performance of milling cutters. 119