Hard Wearing and Decorative Coatings

Advanced Materials for Coatings

Testbourne offers a wide selection of high-purity materials and cathodes designed for sputtering and arc deposition applications, ideal for producing both functional hard coatings and aesthetic decorative finishes. Whether you're enhancing performance, durability or visual appeal, our materials deliver industry-leading reliability and surface quality.

Materials for Sputtering Targets & Arc Cathodes

Our materials are engineered for precision coating technologies such as:

• Magnetron Sputtering
• Cathodic Arc Deposition (CAD)
• Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD)

We supply the following commonly used materials, available in various purities and alloy ratios:

• Aluminium-Chromium (AlCr)
• Chromium – 99.5% to 99.95%
• Graphite – 99.9% & 99.99%
• Titanium – Grade 1, Grade 2, 99.9%+
• Titanium-Aluminium (TiAl)
• Titanium-Zirconium (TiZr)
• Titanium-Silicon (TiSi)
• Titanium Boride – 99.5%, 99.8%
• Tungsten Carbide (WC)
• Zirconium (Zr) – 99.2%
• These materials offer exceptional hardness, adhesion, thermal stability, and uniform deposition characteristics.

Hard Coating Applications

Our materials are used to create tribological and wear-resistant coatings for demanding industrial uses, including:

• Cutting tools, punches, and forming dies: Increase tool lifetime and operational productivity
• Automotive engine components: Reduce friction and wear in high-performance engines
• Precision mechanical systems: Enhance surface hardness and resistance to corrosion or fatigue

Decorative Coating Applications

Our high-purity materials also enable aesthetic and durable coatings on consumer and luxury goods:

• Mobile devices, watches, and eyewear: Add scratch-resistant, colored finishes
• Jewellery and fashion accessories: Deliver premium metallic aesthetics
• Automotive trims, kitchen & bath fittings: Provide both beauty and longevity in daily-use products

These coatings offer exceptional visual appeal, UV stability, and abrasion resistance while maintaining thin-layer integrity.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the difference between hard coatings and decorative coatings?

Hard coatings focus on enhancing wear resistance, while decorative coatings combine durability with visual aesthetics. Both often use the same base materials but differ in process parameters and layering.

Which coating methods are supported?

Our materials are optimised for PVD, sputtering, and arc evaporation, commonly used in both tool coating and consumer product finishing industries.

Can Testbourne help with material selection for my coating system?

Yes. We offer expert advice to match materials to your desired performance, color, durability, and deposition method.

Do you provide customised target sizes or ratios?

Absolutely. We can supply custom compositions and dimensions for your cathodes or sputtering targets, including bonded, monolithic, or segmented options.

Surface Excellence Begins with Testbourne

Whether you’re engineering cutting-edge tools or creating premium consumer finishes, Testbourne’s high-performance coating materials deliver durability, efficiency and visual brilliance. Our extensive material portfolio, technical support and custom options ensure your coatings exceed expectations in performance and presentation. Get in touch with our team to explore the right solution for your surface engineering project.