COATINGS
Improving Wear
Resistance
Improving Corrosion Resistance
Improving Anti-stick Properties
Since the introduction of PharmaCote® CN in 2007 I Holland has carried out extensive research (both academic and in the field) into anti-stick coating solutions using many forms of advanced technology such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM); scanning electron microscopy; laser profilometry; adhesion mapping; x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; raman spectroscopy and time of flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry. In addition, work on abrasion resistance is continuing including nanowear testing to simulate wear caused by abrasive granules on punch tip surfaces.
Our focus is on providing the best customer service possible by furthering tabletting science and developing solutions that help to enhance the performance of our punches and dies, extending product life and increasing yield for our customers. I Holland PharmaCote® products offer solutions for sticking, corrosion, pitting and abrasion.
Due to the many varying parameters in tablet production, including environmental conditions and differences in compounds to be compressed, the performance of these coatings can vary from application to application. As part of I Holland’s commitment to customer service our experienced technical staff will offer up to date information and assistance when selecting an appropriate PharmaCote® product for your tooling.
hc
(hard Chromium)
A silver coloured coating which protects the surfaces of punches and dies, enhancing corrosion and wear resisting properties and reducing friction and adhesion.
Features
- Hydrogen de-embrittlement process is carried out
- Coating thickness of 3-6 microns
- Colour silver/chrome
- Hardness 900Hv (est.)
Benefits
- Increases surface hardness over base material improving wear resistance
- Reduces friction and sticking to some extent
- Low cost
- Provides some general corrosion protection
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using and ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Can be applied to HPG-S, HPG-P & HPG-SS
- Can be applied to both punches and dies
A unique proprietary IHolland process that modifies the surface reducing the effect of formulation sticking to the punch face.
PHARMACOTE® HC + (HARD CHROMIUM PLUS)
Features
- Improved anti-stick properties over PharmaCote® HC
Benefits
As for HC above PLUS
- Increased output through reduced tabletting problems caused by sticking
cN
(chromium Nitride)
A silver grey coating providing a superior punch surface which is very smooth when compared with many CN coatings due to our unique method of application. Best performing anti-stick coating.
Features
- Extremely smooth coating
- Coating thickness of 2-4 microns
- Hardness 2000 Hv (est.)
Benefits
- Excellent anti-stick properties
- Superb corrosion resistance up to 9x the corrosion resistance of PharmaCote® HC
- Good wear resistance more than 2x the hardness of PharmaCote® HC
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing.
Application
- Applied to HPG-P & HPG-SS Steel
- Applied to both punches and dies (NOTE: all over coating supplied as standard, tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers)
PHARMACOTE® CN + (CHROMIUM NITRIDE PLUS)
An additional surface modification with anti-stick properties at low additional cost This further reduces the effect of formulation sticking to the punch face.
Advantages
- Improved anti-stick properties over PharmaCote® CN
Benefits
As for CN, plus:
- Further enhanced anti-stick properties reducing tabletting problems.
- Offers a proven alternative to magnesium stearate spray system without reducing product yield.
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing.
cx
(chromium nitride extra)
An enhanced Chromium Nitride, silver grey coating that is very smooth due to our unique method of application. In addition to all the benefits of PharmaCote® CN, PharmaCote® CX offers prolonged tooling life.
Features
- Silver Matt Finish Top
- Tickness: 6-8 microns
- Hardness 2000 Hv (est)
Benefits
- Superior anti-stick properties
- Good corrosion resistance
- Good wear resistance more than 2X the hardness of PharmaCote® HC
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P steel only
- Textured surface treatment applied to punch tip faces only.
- Remainder of the punch is CN coated as standard (Tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers)
PHARMACOTE®
CX + (CHROMIUM NITRIDE EXTRA PLUS)
Description
An additional surface modification offering enhanced anti-stick properties at low additional cost. This further reduces the effect of formulation sticking to the punch tip face.
Advantages
- Improved anti-stick properties over PharmaCote® CX
Benefits
- Prolonged tooling life due to thicker coating application
- Excellent anti-stick properties
- Superb corrosion resistance up to 13x the corrosion resistance of PharmaCote® HC
- Good wear resistance, more than 2x the hardness of PharmaCote® CN
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
- Further enhanced anti-stick properties reducing tableting problems
Application
- Applied to HPG-P and HPG-SS Steel
- Applied to punches only (NOTE: all over coating supplied as standard, tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers).
ct
(textured chromium nitride)
I Holland's exclusive surface treatment in combination with our unique PharmaCote® CN coating generates a superb anti-stick tip face for tablet production.
Features
- Silver Matt Finish Top
- Thickness: 2-4 microns
- Hardness 2000 Hv (est)
Benefits
- Superior anti-stick properties
- Good corrosion resistance
- Good wear resistance more than 2X the hardness of PharmaCote® HC
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P steel only
- Textured surface treatment applied to punch tip faces only.
- Remainder of the punch is CN coated as standard (Tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers)
EC Xtra
(E-Chrome)
A silver grey coating that provides improved anti-stick, anti-corrosion and anti-wear properties over PharmaCote® HC.
Features
- No micro-cracks (as can be found with Hard Chromium)
- Coating thickness of 2-4 microns
- Colour silver/chrome
- Hardness 1700Hv (est.)
Benefits
- More corrosion resistant than PharmaCote® HC (due to non-porous surface)
- More wear resistant than PharmaCote® HC
- Will improve sticking compared to PharmaCote® HC
- Stronger punch due to no weakening of the substrate material from hydrogen embrittlement.
- A tougher, shock resistant punch provided at lower cost than premium coatings requiring HPG-P substrate material
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-S steel only
- Applied to punches only (All over coating supplied as standard. Barrel & tip only available as an option)
TN
(Titanium Nitride)
A thin, gold coloured coating applied to the surfaces of both punches and dies which can improve wear resistance.
Features
- Low thermal conductivity
- Thickness 2-3 microns
- Hardness 2300 Hv (est.)
Benefits
- A very hard surface layer that can improve wear resistance
- Resistance to heat transfer during compression
- The gold colour can be used for easy identification of tooling sets
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P & HPG-SS
- Suitable for both punches and dies
- All over coating supplied as standard
- Tip and barrel option also available
RS
(Resilient Surface)
A distinctive silver blue coloured coating applied to the tip of the punch, with superb wear resistant properties but also good resistance to corrosion.
Features
- Very smooth finish
- Thickness 2-4 microns
- Hardness 3000 Hv (est.)
Benefits
- An excellent wear resistant coating due to very hard surface layer
- More than 3 times the hardness of Hard Chromium
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P & HPG-SS
- Punch tip only coating – to prevent excessive wear to compression rollers
PI
(Polymer Insert)
A polymer or elastomer insert cut to match the tip shape which reduces sticking of the formulation to the punch face.
Features
- May be made from a choice of materials (Vulcalon, Adiprene, PTFE)
- Thickness 1-2.5mm
- Hardness variable with material choice
Benefits
- A good anti-stick solution especially for effervescent products. Inserts are replaceable at low cost
Application
- Suitable for Flat Bevelled Edge and Flat Faced punches only.
- A modification to the punch tip is required to hold the insert in place
- Can be used in conjunction with HPG-S, HPG-P & HPG-SS
hc
(hard Chromium)
A silver coloured coating which protects the surfaces of punches and dies, enhancing corrosion and wear resisting properties and reducing friction and adhesion.
Features
- Hydrogen de- embrittlement process is carried out
- Coating thickness of 3-6 microns
- Colour silver/chrome
- Hardness 900Hv (est.)
Benefits
- Increases surface hardness over base material improving wear resistance
- Reduces friction and sticking to some extent
- Low cost
- Provides some general corrosion protection
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using and ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Can be applied to HPG-S, HPG-P & HPG-SS
- Can be applied to both punches and dies
A unique proprietary IHolland process that modifies the surface reducing the effect of formulation sticking to the punch face.
PHARMACOTE® HC + (HARD CHROMIUM PLUS)
Features
- Improved anti-stick properties over PharmaCote® HC
Benefits
As for HC above PLUS
- Increased output through reduced tabletting problems caused by sticking
cN
(chromium Nitride)
A silver grey coating providing a superior punch surface which is very smooth when compared with many CN coatings due to our unique method of application. Best performing anti-stick coating.
Features
- Extremely smooth coating
- Coating thickness of 2-4 microns
- Hardness 2000 Hv (est.)
Benefits
- Excellent anti-stick properties
- Superb corrosion resistance up to 9x the corrosion resistance of PharmaCote® HC
- Good wear resistance more than 2x the hardness of PharmaCote® HC
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing.
Application
- Applied to HPG-P & HPG-SS Steel
- Applied to both punches and dies (NOTE: all over coating supplied as standard, tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers)
PHARMACOTE® CN + (CHROMIUM NITRIDE PLUS)
An additional surface modification with anti-stick properties at low additional cost This further reduces the effect of formulation sticking to the punch face.
Advantages
- Improved anti-stick properties over PharmaCote® CN
Benefits
As for CN, plus:
- Further enhanced anti-stick properties reducing tabletting problems.
- Offers a proven alternative to magnesium stearate spray system without reducing product yield.
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing.
cx
(chromium nitride extra)
An enhanced Chromium Nitride, silver grey coating that is very smooth due to our unique method of application. In addition to all the benefits of PharmaCote® CN, PharmaCote® CX offers prolonged tooling life.
Features
- Silver Matt Finish Top
- Tickness: 2-4 microns
- Hardness 2000 Hv (est)
Benefits
- Superior anti-stick properties
- Good corrosion resistance
- Good wear resistance more than 2X the hardness of PharmaCote® HC
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P steel only
- Textured surface treatment applied to punch tip faces only.
- Remainder of the punch is CN coated as standard (Tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers)
PHARMACOTE® CX + (CHROMIUM NITRIDE EXTRA PLUS)
Description
An additional surface modification offering enhanced anti-stick properties at low additional cost. This further reduces the effect of formulation sticking to the punch tip face.Advantages
- Improved anti-stick properties over PharmaCote® CX
Benefits
- Prolonged tooling life due to thicker coating application
- Excellent anti-stick properties
- Superb corrosion resistance up to 13x the corrosion resistance of PharmaCote® HC
- Good wear resistance, more than 2x the hardness of PharmaCote® CN
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
- Further enhanced anti-stick properties reducing tableting problems
Application
- Applied to HPG-P and HPG-SS Steel
- Applied to punches only (NOTE: all over coating supplied as standard, tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers).
ct
(textured chromium nitride)
I Holland's exclusive surface treatment in combination with our unique PharmaCote® CN coating generates a superb anti-stick tip face for tablet production.
Features
- Silver Matt Finish Top
- Tickness: 2-4 microns
- Hardness 2000 Hv (est)
Benefits
- Superior anti-stick properties
- Good corrosion resistance
- Good wear resistance more than 2X the hardness of PharmaCote® HC
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P steel only
- Textured surface treatment applied to punch tip faces only.
- Remainder of the punch is CN coated as standard (Tip & barrel option available to optimise wear characteristics of HPG-P steel on the compression rollers)
EC Xtra
(E-Chrome)
A silver grey coating that provides improved anti-stick, anti-corrosion and anti-wear properties over PharmaCote® HC.
Features
- No micro-cracks (as can be found with Hard Chromium)
- Coating thickness of 2-4 microns
- Colour silver/chrome
- Hardness 1700Hv (est.)
Benefits
- More corrosion resistant than PharmaCote® HC (due to non-porous surface)
- More wear resistant than PharmaCote® HC
- Will improve sticking compared to PharmaCote® HC
- Stronger punch due to no weakening of the substrate material from hydrogen embrittlement.
- A tougher, shock resistant punch provided at lower cost than premium coatings requiring HPG-P substrate material
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-S steel only
- Applied to punches only (All over coating supplied as standard. Barrel & tip only available as an option)
TN
(Titanium Nitride)
A thin, gold coloured coating applied to the surfaces of both punches and dies which can improve wear resistance.
Features
- Low thermal conductivity
- Thickness 2-3 microns
- Hardness 2300 Hv (est.)
Benefits
- A very hard surface layer that can improve wear resistance
- Resistance to heat transfer during compression
- The gold colour can be used for easy identification of tooling sets
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P & HPG-SS
- Suitable for both punches and dies
- All over coating supplied as standard
- Tip and barrel option also available
RS
(Resilient Surface)
A distinctive silver blue coloured coating applied to the tip of the punch, with superb wear resistant properties but also good resistance to corrosion.
Features
- Very smooth finish
- Thickness 2-4 microns
- Hardness 3000 Hv (est.)
Benefits
- An excellent wear resistant coating due to very hard surface layer
- More than 3 times the hardness of Hard Chromium
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain using an ultrasonic bath and light automated polishing
Application
- Applied to HPG-P & HPG-SS
- Punch tip only coating – to prevent excessive wear to compression rollers
PI
(Polymer Insert)
A polymer or elastomer insert cut to match the tip shape which reduces sticking of the formulation to the punch face.
Features
- May be made from a choice of materials (Vulcalon, Adiprene, PTFE)
- Thickness 1-2.5mm
- Hardness variable with material choice
Benefits
- A good anti-stick solution especially for effervescent products. Inserts are replaceable at low cost
Application
- Suitable for Flat Bevelled Edge and Flat Faced punches only.
- A modification to the punch tip is required to hold the insert in place
- Can be used in conjunction with HPG-S, HPG-P & HPG-SS
Want a free TSAR≈PREDICT? Get in touch.
Our service team are happy to help.
TSAR≈PREDICT
What does it do?
TSAR≈PREDICT forecasts the best anti-stick PharmaCote® coating solution for your formulation. It calculates single particle adhesion to the punch tip face without time consuming and expensive field trials.
Who is it aimed at?
Any tablet manufacturer experiencing sticking problems including pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, industrial, confectionery, veterinary applications.
What does it cost?
TSAR≈PREDICT is a free of charge service available to all I Holland customers.
What information does I Holland need from me?
About TSAR
