Author: schrantzdiane

Not every part can be manufactured from the hardest available material. Aerospace bearings require titanium for its strength-to-weight ratio. Medical instruments use stainless steel for biocompatibility. Automotive drivetrain components rely on aluminum alloys to reduce vehicle weight. Cutting tools use HSS when carbide is too brittle for the geometry. In each case, the base material is chosen for a reason that has nothing to do with surface hardness. The problem is that softer substrates wear faster, corrode sooner, and generate more friction at contact surfaces. Replacing the material is not an option. The answer is adding a surface coating that…