ColoradoKote
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Three Stages of Polymer Coating
The same AS9100 quality system governs polymer coating operations, from surface preparation through final inspection.
Substrate-Matched Surface Preparation
Surface cleaning and profiling are matched to the base material. Metal substrates receive blast profiling for mechanical adhesion. Polymer and composite substrates receive chemical surface activation. All preparation is documented under AS9100 protocols.
Controlled Film Build
Polymer coating is applied via calibrated spray equipment in controlled layers. Film thickness is verified at each stage to achieve the specified build. Air-cure formulations eliminate the need for oven curing, accommodating oversized and heat-sensitive components.
Performance Verification
Post-application inspection verifies film thickness, adhesion, visual appearance, and surface uniformity. Adhesion testing confirms bond integrity on the specific substrate. Full documentation accompanies every shipment with measured results.
The Polymer Coating Process
Polymer coatings form a continuous, flexible film that absorbs substrate movement without cracking or delamination. ColoradoKote applies polymer coatings under the same AS9100 quality system that governs ceramic operations, delivering documented quality for gaskets, seals, sliding interfaces, and chemically exposed surfaces.
What Our Polymer Coating Delivers
Polymer coatings solve problems that rigid ceramic coatings cannot address. Each result is verified through standardized testing.
Chemical Resistance Rating
Polymer coatings withstand acids, alkalis, solvents, and fuels that attack unprotected substrates. The continuous film prevents chemical penetration to the base material, extending service life in harsh chemical environments.
Coefficient of Friction
Polymer coatings provide lubricious surfaces that reduce wear on sliding interfaces. The low friction coefficient minimizes heat generation and mechanical stress on dynamic components requiring smooth, consistent operation.
Substrate Conformability
Polymer films conform to substrate movement, vibration, and thermal cycling without adhesion loss or cracking. This flexibility makes polymer the correct choice for gaskets, seals, and components subject to repeated dynamic stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
The corrosion protection from passivation is inherent to the stainless steel itself. By removing contaminants and maximizing surface chromium, passivation restores the material to its designed corrosion resistance, which can last the lifetime of the part in appropriate environments. For environments that exceed stainless steel's natural limits, adding a Cerakote topcoat at 0.5-2 mils extends measurable salt spray resistance to 3,000 hours per ASTM B117.
Yes. Drivetrain components including transmission cases, differential housings, and transfer case components accumulate gear oil, ATF residue, and metallic wear particles in every internal surface and crevice. Ultrasonic cavitation penetrates bearing bores, oil channels, and casting details to remove these contaminants completely. For drivetrain components being Cerakote coated for corrosion protection and heat management, thorough removal of petroleum contaminants is essential to prevent fish-eye defects and adhesion failures.
Yes. Raw AM surfaces harbor bacteria in their inherent porosity and texture, making them unsuitable for clinical settings. Cerakote seals surface porosity and reduces roughness from Ra 8-15 micrometers to below 3 micrometers, creating a smooth, cleanable surface compatible with hospital disinfectants and autoclave sterilization. The sealed surface prevents microbial adhesion while the coating withstands thousands of cleaning cycles without degradation. This transforms AM builds into clinical-grade components.
Yes. We run the complete preparation-to-coating sequence in-house: ultrasonic cleaning removes machining fluids and contaminants from blind holes and internal passages, chemical conversion coating (chromate or non-chromate) provides the adhesion-promoting base layer, and Cerakote ceramic coating delivers the final corrosion and wear barrier. Running this full stack under one AS9100 quality system eliminates handoff risk between multiple vendors and compresses your lead time.
No. At 0.5-2 mils thickness, Cerakote adds negligible weight compared to powder coating at 4-6 mils. For AM parts designed with topology optimization and lattice structures to minimize mass, this thin-film approach preserves the weight savings of additive manufacturing while adding corrosion, wear, and chemical resistance. The weight impact is typically measured in fractions of a gram on small-to-medium components.
Ready for Polymer Coating
Describe your application requirements including substrate material, operating environment, and performance needs. Receive a recommendation with the appropriate polymer formulation.