subject: IBED Precision Coatings for Tablet Tooling: Titanium Nitride [print this page] Manufacturers of pharmaceutical solid dose tablets often use precision coatings to maintain the original surface conditions of tableting tooling. The reason for doing this is to ensure the tablet manufacturing process is operating efficiently as possible. Punches, dies and other tableting tooling often develop microscopic pits and cracks over time, resulting in reduced performance during production. When applied using the appropriate method, precision coatings are capable of maintaining critical surface finishes on tableting tools, thereby increasing tableting efficiency and reducing production costs.
Ion Beam Enhanced Deposited (IBED) Coatings -
An alternative to conventional coating processes (such as electroplating and physical vapor deposition), the Ion Beam Enhanced Deposition (IBED) process is capable of producing coatings that are inherently smooth and precisely replicate the original surface finish of the tooling. The IBED process enables a wide range of metallurgical compositions (metallic, nitride, oxide, and carbide), a high degree of control over surface and sub-surface nanostructure, and typical thicknesses up to 5 microns (0.0002 inches). Excellent adhesion, precision and uniformity are achieved with processing temperatures held below 93 degrees Celsius (200 degrees Fahrenheit). IBED-applied precision coatings can be deposited on most metallic, glass, ceramic, and even plastic surfaces.
Titanium Nitride Coatings -
Titanium nitride coatings are an optimal choice for pharmaceutical tooling, providing supreme corrosion resistance and surface smoothing, thus eliminating sticking and picking during production. In use, titanium nitride provides a superior performance enhancement for most surfaces, outperforming chrome plating and chromium nitride coatings for improving corrosion resistance, reducing sticking/picking, and reducing high wear rates.
Chemical Properties of Titanium Nitride -
Titanium Nitride is a metallic nitride compound and its chemical formula is TiN. It is a solid material exhibiting a light, metallic gold color. Titanium Nitride is also odorless. In solid form and applied as a thin coating to another material, TiN is non-volatile and non-flammable, and is insoluble in organic solvents. It is only slightly reactive with strong inorganic acids and will react with and dissolve in strong oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen peroxide and persulfates. It is hard (HKN 2800), highly resistant to abrasive wear and as such does not release wear debris. When deposited as a coating using the IBED process, Titanium Nitride is fully dense and void-free. Because of this, TiN will not absorb or trap any powdered or liquid materials that it may come into contact with.
Health Effects of TiN -
Titanium and titanium compounds including Titanium Nitride are considered to be physiologically inert. TiN is not listed as a carcinogen and neither acute nor chronic exposure induces toxic effects of any kind.
FDA Regulations for Using TiN -
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the equipment used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, including solid dosage tableting tooling. Titanium Nitride coatings, when applied to the working surfaces of tableting punches and dies using the IBED process, satisfy FDA regulatory guidelines (21 CFR 211.65) because the process produces coatings that are non-reactive (except with extreme oxidizing agents), non-additive and non-absorptive.
IBED Precision Coatings for Tablet Tooling: Titanium Nitride
