9 THREAD MILLS – TOOL MATERIALS AND SURFACE COATINGS NAVIGATOR HM materials A sintered powder metallurgy substrate, consisting of a metallic carbide composite with binder metal. The most central raw material is tungsten carbide (WC). Tungsten carbide contributes to the hardness of the material. Tantalum carbide (TaC), titanium carbide (TiC) and Carbide Materials niobium carbide (NbC) complements WC and adjusts the properties to what is desired. These three materials are called cubic carbides. (or Hard Materials) Cobalt (Co) acts as a binder and keeps the material together. Carbide materials are often characterised by high compression strength, high hardness and therefore high wear resistance, but also by limited flexural strength and toughness. Carbide is used in taps, reamers, milling cutters, drills and thread milling cutters. Surface Coatings The Alcrona (AlCrN) family of coatings are aluminium chromium nitride coatings mostly used for milling cutters. The two unique properties Alcrona coatings of these coatings are high hot hardness and high oxidation resistance. When used on tools for machining applications involving heavy (Alcrona Pro) 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. 297