Coatings to Protect Titanium Scales

R

rummels

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Mar 15, 2013
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Does anyone know where a person would go to have titanium scales coated to protect them from scratches? Something similar to the way aluminum is coated with Mil Spec Type III anodization? The color would have to be something matt with a rough finish, not unlike the finish provided by anodized aluminum or bead blasting. This finish would have to be really hard so it would protect the titanium from scratching and other types of wear.

I have read about coatings like AlTiN (Aluminum Titanium Nitride, nACRo (Aluminum Silicon Chromium), CrN (Chromium Nitride) and boron carbide, but I was hoping that someone has already tried this and could point me in the right direction. There are many companies that apply these types of coatings, but they would normally be working with engine and machine components and might not be concerned with the appearance of the final product. So I am assuming that the best way to approach this is to find someone who already does this kind of work on flashlights, knife scales, etc.
Thanks
rummels
 
Are you simply trying to protect the looks of the titanium? Because scratches won't otherwise harm titanium.
 
I am just trying to protect the looks. Titanium has several characteristics that make it an excellent scale material, but it scratches easily. And it is usually finished in a way that makes those scratches really noticeable vs something like G10.

And most frame locks are now made with titanium, so if you want a high quality frame lock you often end up with titanium scales.
Thanks
rummels
 
If you coat the titanium, you're going to change the way it looks anyway. I have a titanium framelock that I had Cerakote applied to and it has held up well after a few years, but the longer I own it, I wish that I kept it bare titanium. I usually heat anodize my titanium now to get the color I want and leave it at that. I've only had one really scratched up bolster, so I simply took a fine grit sandpaper and scuffed up the titanium to blend the scratch in. Then I heat anodized it again.
 
Your best bet is to put an orange peel or stonewash finish on the titanium. Scratches won't really show up that way.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I know that there are chemical processes that will put a very hard surface on titanium, but, as I said before, they are industrial processes that may not result in an attractive knife. The trick is to find out if anyone does this on smaller items like flashlights or knife scales, and who is careful about how the object looks when the work is done.
 
Yes, there are people who do knives. Search "Ionbond." I have used them for custom knife coating.
You have to realize that the coating will change the way the titanium looks.
 
not only the looks but the tolerances too. If this is is something like a bearing flipper or a very accurately milled folder a coating can change the specs of small holes or threads. If anything you may want to look into anodizing it or heat treating it. You can harden certain alloys of titanium. Not as hard as steel but combined with a finer bead blast finish scratches will be harder to get on the knife. Anodizing creates an oxide layer too that is supposedly harder than the actual metal itself. If you overshoot all the colors you basically get the same grey color you started with. Also really rough blasted TI scratches easier than smooth titanium. And even with the rough stuff I have found that many "scratches" were simply deposited material in the blasted finish. jean rivets really do this alot and its hard to get off.
 
Ionbond coating is so thin that tolerances aren't affected.
 
Bill Deshivs
When I Google "Ionbond" I get many hits. Was there someone or a specific company that you would recommend?
Thanks!
Rummels

PS I am also looking into companies that might provide these types of coatings to titanium flashlights. If the can do flashlights, they can do knife scales.
 
You do realize that the coating will scratch also, right?

As mentioned, bead blast, stone wash, etch, anodize...
Those are your best options.
 
I can't recommend them here, as I don't know if they are paying Bladeforums members.
 
TiNi and Boron Carbide coatings will result in more involved upkeep as these coatings take oil and fingerprints in an extremely annoying manner.
 
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