Vanadium: increases wear resistance of finishing tools. • Cobalt: enables increased hardening temperatures and improves heat resistance. All types of HSS contain significant amounts of carbon, which reacts with the refractory metals to form hard carbides, which increase wear resistance and hot hardness.
Titanium nitride (TiN) coating is wear resistant, inert & reduces friction. Used on cutting tools punches etc improving tool life 2-10x over uncoated tools