Titanium nitride
[CAS# 25583-20-4]

Identification

• Classification: Inorganic chemical industry >> Inorganic salt >> Hydride, nitride, azide >> Nitride
• Name: Titanium nitride
• Synonyms: Balanit A; Kaier 0824; ReactHeat Blue 2; TBX 02; TiN-HP; Titanium mononitride; Titanium nitride; UFP
• Molecular Formula: TiN
• Molecular Weight: 61.87
• CAS Registry Number: 25583-20-4
• EC Number: 247-117-5
• SMILES: N#[Ti]

Properties

• Density: 5.24 g/mL (Expl.)
• Melting point: 2930 ºC (Expl.)^*

^* Son, Ji Hoon; Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2010, V10(5), P3165-3169.

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS02;GHS07 DangerGHS02
• Hazard Statements: H228-H315-H319
• Precautionary Statements: P210-P240-P241-P264-P264+P265-P280-P302+P352-P305+P351+P338-P321-P332+P317-P337+P317-P362+P364-P370+P378

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Flammable solids	Flam. Sol.	2	H228
Skin irritation	Skin Irrit.	2	H315
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Carcinogenicity	Carc.	2	H351
Flammable solids	Flam. Sol.	1	H228

Discovory and Applicatios

Titanium nitride is an inorganic compound composed of titanium and nitrogen that has become an important industrial material because of its combination of hardness, chemical stability, and metallic conductivity. The substance was first identified in the early twentieth century during systematic studies of refractory compounds formed between transition metals and light elements such as nitrogen and carbon. Researchers investigating high-temperature reactions of titanium observed the formation of a hard, chemically resistant nitride phase, which was later recognized as titanium nitride. Its crystal structure and basic properties were established through X-ray diffraction and physical measurements as experimental techniques matured.

Early interest in titanium nitride was primarily scientific. The compound attracted attention because it combined properties that were usually associated with very different classes of materials. It exhibited the brittleness and high melting point typical of ceramics, while also showing electrical conductivity more characteristic of metals. These unusual characteristics made titanium nitride a useful model compound in the study of bonding and electronic structure in transition metal nitrides. As understanding of its properties improved, attention gradually shifted from pure research to practical use.

The first significant applications of titanium nitride emerged in the field of surface engineering. By the mid-twentieth century, industrial researchers recognized that thin layers of titanium nitride could protect metal surfaces from wear and corrosion. Advances in vacuum technology and plasma processing made it possible to deposit uniform coatings of the material onto tools and machine parts. Physical vapor deposition techniques, in which titanium is vaporized and reacted with nitrogen in a controlled environment, proved particularly effective. These developments marked the transition of titanium nitride from a laboratory curiosity to a commercially valuable coating material.

One of the most important applications of titanium nitride has been in cutting and forming tools. Coating steel or carbide tools with a thin layer of titanium nitride significantly increases their service life. The coating reduces friction between the tool and the workpiece, slows abrasive wear, and provides a barrier against chemical reactions at elevated temperatures. As a result, tools can operate at higher speeds and for longer periods without failure. This application has been widely adopted in machining, drilling, and metal forming industries.

Titanium nitride has also played a key role in the development of modern microelectronics. Its thermal stability and electrical conductivity make it suitable for use as a diffusion barrier and conductive layer in integrated circuits. In semiconductor fabrication, titanium nitride is commonly used to prevent unwanted diffusion of metals into silicon and other substrates during high-temperature processing. It has also been used as an electrode material in capacitors and as a component in thin-film resistors, contributing to the reliability and miniaturization of electronic devices.

Another important area of application is biomedicine. Titanium nitride coatings are applied to surgical instruments, orthopedic implants, and dental components. The material is chemically inert and resists corrosion in physiological environments, which helps reduce the release of metal ions and improves long-term stability. Its hard surface also enhances wear resistance in joint replacements and other load-bearing implants. These properties have led to widespread acceptance of titanium nitride as a biocompatible coating material.

Beyond technical and medical uses, titanium nitride has found application in decorative and consumer products. Its characteristic gold-like appearance, combined with high scratch resistance, has made it attractive for watches, jewelry, and architectural hardware. In these applications, titanium nitride provides the visual appeal of precious metals while offering superior durability and lower cost.

From its initial discovery as a refractory compound to its widespread use in industry, electronics, medicine, and design, titanium nitride illustrates how fundamental research on material properties can lead to diverse and lasting applications. Its continued importance reflects the enduring demand for materials that combine mechanical strength, chemical stability, and functional versatility.

References

2025. The Effect of Titanium Nitride Coatings on the Ingrowth and Interface Strength of Three-Dimensional Printed Porous Implants. The Journal of Arthroplasty.
DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.03.060

2025. Rational design of 3D ordered macro-microporous TiN/carbon architectures for high-energy and stable rocking-chair aqueous Mn-ion batteries. Ionics.
DOI: 10.1007/s11581-025-06574-w

2025. Radiation-resistant Ti/BN coatings: insights from 171 days exposure to space radiation and atomic oxygen in low orbit. npj Materials Degradation.
DOI: 10.1038/s41529-025-00644-0

2025. Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Armchair and Zigzag Nanoribbons of Transition Metal Nitrides: A DFT Study. Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism.
DOI: 10.1007/s10948-025-07024-4