Automotive R&D
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
What automotive R&D demands
Deadlines do not move. Neither should your coating.
Wear Protection That Keeps Equipment in Service
Surface wear shortens component life and drives unplanned maintenance. Ceramic coating delivers 9H hardness with 160/160 in-lbs impact strength (ASTM verified).
Corrosion-Resistant Cerakote Coating
4,000+ hours of ASTM B117 salt spray resistance. Molecular-level protection for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Cerakote Color Consistency & Aesthetic Finishing
Delta E ≤1 color precision across production runs. 200+ standard colors. Spectrophotometer-verified on every batch.
Weight Reduction Without Sacrificing Protection
Thick coatings add weight that undermines lightweighting efforts. Ceramic coating at 0.5-2 mils delivers full protection with 200-400g savings per part versus powder coating.
Coatings engineered for automotive R&D programs
Cerakote ceramic coating delivers show-quality aesthetics with functional heat resistance, corrosion protection, and multi-substrate consistency for automotive R&D programs on deadline.
Prototype programs demand coatings that perform double duty: look impeccable for auto shows and investor demos while surviving durability testing, thermal cycling, and fluid exposure. Cerakote delivers both in a single application at 0.5–2 mils.
Multi-substrate assemblies are our specialty. When your prototype combines aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, and 3D-printed components, Cerakote provides one consistent finish across all materials, eliminating the multi-vendor, multi-process coating approach that delays prototype timelines.
Why Cerakote Beats Traditional Automotive Finishes for R&D
Automotive paint requires primer, base, and clear coat at 4–6 mils total. Powder coating adds 3–8 mils and cannot handle carbon fiber. Plating is substrate-specific. Cerakote delivers color-matched ceramic coating across all prototype materials at 0.5–2 mils with heat resistance to 1,800°F on exhaust components.
Certifications that matter in aerospace
We hold the credentials your industry demands. Every coating we apply meets or exceeds the standards that keep aircraft safe and compliant.
AS9100 aerospace quality management
Required for all aerospace suppliers, ensuring our processes meet the highest quality and traceability standards.
ITAR defense manufacturing compliance
Authorized to handle controlled defense articles and technical data with proper security protocols.
ISO 9001 quality systems certification
Demonstrates our commitment to consistent quality and continuous improvement across all operations.
What we coat for automotive R&D
From EV battery enclosures to carbon fiber body panels and exhaust headers
Why Cerakote for Oil and Gas Weight Savings
Thin-film protection for demanding environments
Why Cerakote for Medical Weight Reduction
Thin-film protection for precision instruments
Why Cerakote for Maritime Weight Reduction
Thin-film saltwater protection at reduced mass
Why Cerakote for Industrial Weight Reduction
Thin-film protection that preserves design tolerances
How we coat for automotive R&D
Flexible process built for prototype speed and multi-substrate complexity
Prototype Review & Material Assessment
Parts evaluated for substrate type, surface condition, and functional requirements. Multi-material assemblies mapped for preparation protocol and color consistency planning.
Surface Preparation & Masking
Substrate-specific media blasting for optimal adhesion on metals, composites, and polymers. Show surfaces protected during preparation. Critical fitment points and electrical contacts masked per prototype specifications.
Application, Cure & Color Verification
Cerakote applied in controlled layers with spectrophotometer-verified color consistency across multi-material assemblies. Cure temperature matched to substrate requirements. Final inspection includes thickness, adhesion, color, and visual examination for show-quality standards.
What matters most
The outcomes that keep your aircraft in the air
Heat Resistance to 1,800°F
Cerakote H-Series ceramic coating withstands exhaust temperatures and under-hood thermal cycling. Corrosion resistance exceeds 4,000 hours ASTM B117 salt spray on prototype components exposed to road spray and fluid contact.
Full ISO 9001 Documentation
Certificate of Conformance with every prototype shipment. Material traceability, color verification data (Delta E measurements), thickness readings, and adhesion test results for R&D program documentation.
Delta E ≤1 Multi-Substrate Color Match
Spectrophotometer-verified color consistency across aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, and 3D-printed prototype components. 200+ standard colors plus custom color matching eliminates the visual inconsistency of substrate-specific finishes.
Prototype-Speed Turnaround
Flexible production scheduling for prototype quantities with expedited options for show deadlines. Consistent quality from single-piece prototypes through small-batch pre-production runs.
Automotive R&D Coating Services
Flexible process built for prototype speed and multi-substrate complexity
Weight Reduction for Oil and Gas Equipment
Thick coatings add mass to equipment transported to remote wellsites and offshore platforms. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Medical Device Components
Surgical instruments must be light enough for hours of precise use. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating without compromising protection. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Maritime Equipment
Heavy coatings add mass to marine hardware that affects vessel performance and handling. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Industrial OEM Components
Thick coatings add unnecessary mass to engineered equipment. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils delivers 200-400g savings per part versus powder coating while preserving tolerances. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Defense and Tactical Equipment
Tactical systems carry weight penalties from thick coatings that reduce mobility and increase operator fatigue. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part. ITAR registered, AS9100 certified.
Weight Reduction for Automotive R&D Prototypes
Every 100 lbs of EV mass costs 2-3 percent range. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating, protecting prototypes without adding mass. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Agriculture Equipment
Heavy coatings add mass to field equipment that operators must handle and transport. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Aerospace Components
Thick coatings add avoidable weight to lightweighted airframe structures. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils delivers 200-400g savings per part versus powder coating. AS9100-certified with full traceability.
Start Your Automotive R&D Project
Request a quote with your prototype specs. We respond within 24 hours with timeline and pricing.