ColoradoKote
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Three Stages of Surface Preparation
Eighty percent of coating failures trace to inadequate surface preparation. Every stage is controlled and documented to prevent this.
Solvent Cleaning Per SSPC-SP 1
Parts are solvent-cleaned to remove machining oils, cutting fluids, and handling residues. This initial decontamination prevents contaminants from being driven into the surface profile during blasting. Visual inspection confirms a clean surface before media contact.
Controlled Media Blasting at 40-80 PSI
Media type and blast pressure are selected for the substrate. Aluminum oxide creates 0.5-1 mil anchor patterns on steel and titanium. Aluminum Oxide and Garnet Sand provides gentle profiling for aluminum and thin-walled AM parts. Precision masking protects critical dimensions throughout.
Profile and Dimensional Confirmation
Surface profile is verified with calibrated gauges per ASTM D4417. For AM parts, CMM measurement confirms dimensional integrity within ±0.0002 inches before and after blasting. Parts transfer to coating within 2-4 hours to prevent recontamination.
The Surface Preparation Process
Proper surface preparation creates the mechanical bond sites that anchor coating at the molecular level. ColoradoKote maintains AS9100-certified preparation processes with media selection matched to each substrate, preserving dimensional tolerances on precision components including additive manufacturing parts.
What Our Surface Prep Delivers
Surface preparation quality is measured, documented, and traceable to each part for complete quality evidence.
Anchor Profile Depth
Aluminum oxide media creates a consistent 2-4 mil surface profile that maximizes coating adhesion. Profile depth is verified with calibrated gauges and documented per ASTM D4417 for every job.
SSPC Surface Cleanliness
SSPC-SP 10 near-white blast removes 95% of surface contaminants, creating the cleanliness level required for maximum coating bond strength. Uniform profiles ensure consistent adhesion across the entire part geometry.
Tolerance on AM Parts
Controlled blast pressure and fine media selection maintain dimensional tolerances within ±0.0002 inches on additive manufacturing parts. CMM verification before and after blasting confirms zero dimensional distortion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Yes. At 0.5-2 mils, Cerakote preserves crisp edges, knurling detail, engraved text, and machined surface features that powder coating at 4-6 mils buries or rounds over. This is particularly important for branded components, serialized parts, and decorative hardware where surface detail is part of the design intent. The thin film also produces a more uniform surface appearance without the orange-peel texture common in thicker coatings.
Cerakote application does not introduce hydrogen into the substrate, unlike electroplating processes that carry embrittlement risk on high-strength steels (above Rockwell C 39). Surface preparation uses media blasting at 80-100 PSI rather than acid pickling, further eliminating hydrogen exposure. This makes Cerakote a safer alternative to chrome and cadmium plating on critical oilfield components where embrittlement-induced failure is a safety concern.
ColoradoKote coats tillage components, sprayer nozzles, combine parts, hydraulic cylinders, grain handling equipment, and other farm hardware exposed to soil abrasion, chemical fertilizers, and moisture. Cerakote's 3,000-hour salt spray resistance and 9H hardness protect equipment surfaces through harsh field conditions and chemical exposure. Our sandblasting and coating process restores worn components and protects new ones.
Cerakote provides 3,000 hours salt spray resistance (ASTM B117) versus 336-1,000 hours for marine-grade anodizing, and it eliminates the 20-60% fatigue debit anodizing causes on aluminum. It also offers 200+ color options at Delta E 1.5 consistency versus the limited palette of anodized finishes. For aluminum marine hardware, Cerakote provides superior protection with better aesthetics and no substrate weakening.
Industrial chemical processing environments expose components to acids, caustics, solvents, and process fluids that attack raw AM surfaces through their inherent porosity. Cerakote seals this porosity and provides a continuous chemical barrier rated for broad chemical resistance. For metal AM parts in chemical processing, the coating prevents corrosion initiation at surface porosity sites that would rapidly degrade uncoated additive builds. This protection extends AM part service life to match or exceed conventionally manufactured equivalents.
Ready for Surface Preparation
Provide your substrate material, dimensional requirements, and coating specification. Receive a preparation plan with media selection and processing details.