DUPLEX PVD
COATINGS.
Duplex PVD coatings combine nitriding and hard coating technology to improve wear resistance, surface hardness, and tool life in demanding applications.
Request a QuoteDuplex PVD Coating
Duplex is a multi-stage surface treatment developed for demanding metalworking applications. The process combines ion nitriding, which case hardens the tool surface to approximately 74 RC, with a hard nano-layer coating that reaches approximately 3,500 HV.
North Star Coating recommends Duplex for stamping and piercing steel where maximum abrasion and galling resistance are required. The hardened support layer beneath the PVD coating helps the surface withstand heavy loading while the nano-layer protects against wear, material transfer, and repeated sliding contact.
Request a Quote
Duplex Coating Properties
Duplex combines a case-hardened substrate with an extremely hard nano-layer coating to improve load support, abrasion resistance, and galling protection in severe metalworking applications.
Coating Color
Bronze / Pink
Produces a distinctive bronze-to-pink finish on treated stamping, piercing, and metalworking tools.
Surface Hardness
3,500 HV
Provides an extremely hard working surface for resisting abrasion, material transfer, and repeated contact with steel.
Process Temperature
Approximately 950°F
Requires careful substrate selection because the treatment temperature can affect the core hardness of some tool steels.
Applications for Duplex Coatings
Duplex is designed for steel-working tools exposed to heavy loading, abrasive wear, repeated impact, and galling during stamping and piercing operations.
Steel Stamping
Protects stamping tools from abrasion, high contact pressure, and material transfer during repeated forming of steel components.
Piercing Punches
Provides a hard, well-supported surface for punches exposed to impact, edge wear, and repeated penetration of steel sheet.
Progressive Dies
Helps protect high-wear die stations that perform repeated piercing, blanking, and forming operations during continuous production.
Blanking Tools
Supports cutting edges subjected to high pressure and abrasive contact when separating steel blanks from sheet material.
Forming Dies
Reduces galling and surface wear on dies exposed to substantial pressure and sliding contact while shaping steel components.
High-Load Tooling
The nitrided case provides additional substrate support for tooling exposed to concentrated loads, impact, and severe production wear.
Why Choose Duplex Coating?
Duplex strengthens the supporting tool surface before applying a hard nano-layer coating, creating a durable system for resisting abrasion, galling, impact, and concentrated production loads.
Exceptional Abrasion Resistance
The approximately 3,500 HV nano-layer protects working surfaces from abrasive wear caused by repeated contact with steel.
Increased Load Support
Ion nitriding creates a hardened case beneath the coating, helping support the surface under concentrated pressure and reducing the risk of coating damage from substrate deformation.
Galling Resistance
Duplex helps reduce galling, a form of adhesive wear in which workpiece material transfers to the tool during high-pressure sliding contact.
Hardened Case Layer
The ion-nitriding stage case hardens the treated surface to approximately 74 RC, creating a strong foundation beneath the PVD nano-layer.
Impact and Edge Protection
The combination of substrate support and surface hardness helps protect punches and cutting edges during repeated impact and interrupted contact.
Important Material Considerations
The approximately 950°F process may reduce the core hardness of S7, A2, and single-tempered D2. Duplex is also not recommended for forming aluminum, so tooling materials and applications should be reviewed before treatment.
Let's Find the Right PVD Coating for Your Application
Whether you're coating cutting tools, dies, molds, or wear components, our team can recommend the best coating for your manufacturing process.