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
Chemical conversion coating and anodizing serve different purposes on agricultural aluminum. Conversion coating is thinner (sub-micron vs. 0.5-3 mils for anodizing), faster to process, and provides excellent paint adhesion as a primer layer. For agricultural parts that need both a corrosion base coat and a durable topcoat, the chem conversion plus Cerakote stack delivers 3,000 hours of salt spray protection while keeping buildup to 0.5-2 mils total.
Marine hardware develops salt crystal deposits, biological growth residue, and corrosion products in every crevice and internal feature. Ultrasonic cavitation dissolves and removes these contaminants from complex geometries that manual cleaning cannot reach. For maritime components being recoated, thorough ultrasonic cleaning removes all chloride contamination that would otherwise initiate corrosion under the new coating. This cleaning step is essential for achieving full coating life on marine hardware.
H-Series is the standard for corrosion protection, delivering 3,000 hours salt spray resistance (ASTM B117) and operating up to 500 degrees F continuous. Elite Series adds the same corrosion performance with a ~0.11 coefficient of friction for moving parts in corrosive environments. V-Series is rated to 2,000 degrees F for high-temperature corrosive service like exhaust systems and flare equipment. We select the series based on your operating temperature, chemical exposure, and whether moving surfaces require dry lubrication.
Oil and gas environments combine salt water, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, high temperatures, and high pressures that overwhelm conventional coatings. Cerakote's 3,000-hour salt spray performance, chemical resistance, and temperature rating to 2,000°F provide multi-threat protection. Our passivation plus Cerakote stack on stainless steel downhole components creates the dual-layer defense these extreme conditions demand.
H-Series is the standard workhorse: 3,000 hours salt spray (ASTM B117), 4,000 abrasion cycles per mil (ASTM D4060), cured at 250-300 degrees F, rated to 500 degrees F continuous. Elite adds a ~0.11 coefficient of friction for dry lubrication on moving parts with the same protection. V-Series is air-cured and rated to 2,000 degrees F for exhaust components and high-temperature applications. We help you select the right series based on your operating environment and performance requirements.
Ready for Surface Preparation
Provide your substrate material, dimensional requirements, and coating specification. Receive a preparation plan with media selection and processing details.