Polymer Coating
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
How Polymer Coating Protects Your Dynamic Parts
Polymer coatings form a continuous, flexible film that bonds chemically to metal, polymer, and composite substrates. The process begins with thorough surface preparation, followed by controlled layer application using calibrated spray equipment. Parts cure at prescribed temperatures to develop full adhesion, chemical resistance, and mechanical properties.
When Polymer Outperforms Ceramic
Ceramic coatings excel in hardness, temperature resistance, and abrasion protection. But rigid coatings can crack on parts that flex under load, vibrate during operation, or undergo repeated thermal cycling across dissimilar materials. Polymer coatings absorb this movement without adhesion loss. For gaskets, seals, sliding interfaces, and chemically exposed surfaces, a polymer film delivers the protection that a hard ceramic film cannot sustain.
Same Quality System, Different Chemistry
Polymer coating at ColoradoKote operates under the same AS9100:2015 quality management system that governs our ceramic coating operations. ITAR registration covers defense-related polymer coating work. ISO 9001:2015 ensures process consistency across every batch. Your Certificate of Conformance contains every data point your quality team requires, regardless of coating chemistry.
What You Gain from Polymer Coating
Polymer coatings solve problems that rigid coatings create on flexible, chemical-exposed, and friction-sensitive components.
Conforms to Substrate Movement Without Cracking
Rigid coatings crack on parts that flex or absorb impact. Polymer coatings conform to substrate movement while maintaining adhesion and protective properties. The film absorbs dynamic stress without delamination, making it suitable for gaskets, seals, and components subject to vibration or thermal cycling.
Full Chemical Resistance for Harsh Environments
Polymer coatings withstand acids, alkalis, solvents, and fuels that attack unprotected substrates. The continuous film prevents chemical penetration to the base material. This protection extends service life on chemically exposed surfaces where ceramic coatings would be too brittle to maintain integrity.
Low-Friction Lubricity for Dynamic Components
Polymer coatings provide a low coefficient of friction that reduces wear on sliding interfaces. The lubricious surface minimizes friction-induced heat and mechanical stress on dynamic components where reduced wear and smooth operation are required.
Technical Specifications for Polymer Coating Applications
| Specification | Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | 180-degree mandrel bend, 0mm coating loss | ASTM D522 |
| Chemical Resistance | Resistant to solvents, acids, hydraulic fluids | ASTM D1308 |
| Coating Thickness | 0.5-2.0 mils | DFT Measurement |
| Adhesion | 5B (highest rating) | ASTM D3359 |
| Coefficient of Friction | ~0.11 (Elite Series) | Per Cerakote TDS |
| Impact Strength | 160/160 in-lbs | ASTM D2794 |
| Substrate Compatibility | All metals, polymers (PA12, PA11), composites | - |
| VOC Status | Exempt in all 50 states | EPA Regulations |
| Environmental Compliance | Heavy-metal free, REACH compliant | Per formulation SDS |
Certifications: AS9100 | ISO 9001 | ITAR | Cerakote Advanced Applicator
Where Polymer Coating Solves the Problem
Ceramic coating protects components across demanding industries. From aircraft engines to military hardware, our process delivers the durability these applications demand.
Aerospace parts
Engine components, landing gear, fasteners, and structural elements face extreme conditions. Ceramic coating extends service life and ensures reliability at altitude.
Aerospace parts
Engine components, landing gear, fasteners, and structural elements face extreme conditions. Ceramic coating extends service life and ensures reliability at altitude.
Aerospace parts
Engine components, landing gear, fasteners, and structural elements face extreme conditions. Ceramic coating extends service life and ensures reliability at altitude.
Aerospace parts
Engine components, landing gear, fasteners, and structural elements face extreme conditions. Ceramic coating extends service life and ensures reliability at altitude.
Where ceramic coating delivers real value
Engine components, landing gear, and fasteners face conditions that demand absolute reliability. Ceramic coating extends service life and ensures performance at altitude and beyond.
Parts received, logged, and tracking begins
Your components arrive and are logged into our AS9100 tracking system. We verify quantities against your purchase order, photograph incoming condition, and assign lot numbers. Full chain of custody starts here and continues through final shipment.
Surfaces cleaned and profiled for polymer adhesion
Parts are cleaned via ultrasonic bath and degreased to remove all contaminants. Media blasting profiles the surface for optimal polymer adhesion, with blast media selected for the specific substrate. Surface preparation determines coating performance, and we do not cut this step short.
Surface is cleaned and made ready for coating
Degreasing, cleaning, and light abrasion remove contaminants and create the ideal surface for adhesion. This step determines coating quality.
Polymer coating applied in controlled layers
Polymer coating is applied using calibrated spray equipment with in-process thickness monitoring via DFT gauge. Application parameters, including air pressure, spray distance, and layer count, are documented for traceability. Thickness targets 0.5-2 mils to preserve dimensional tolerances on precision components.
Ceramic coating is applied in controlled layers
We apply the coating using precision equipment, monitoring thickness and coverage. Each layer cures before the next is applied, building a durable finish.
Controlled cure develops full coating properties
Parts cure in temperature-controlled ovens following the prescribed schedule for the specific polymer formulation. Oven temperature is monitored and recorded throughout the cycle. Multiple ovens provide capacity redundancy and consistent thermal profiles for reliable property development.
Coating hardens and bonds to the substrate
The coating cures under controlled temperature and humidity. We don't rush this phase. Full cure strength takes time, and we give it that time.
Multi-point verification before parts ship
Final inspection verifies coating thickness via DFT gauge, adhesion per ASTM D3359, and visual appearance against acceptance criteria. A Certificate of Conformance is generated documenting all measurements, material batches, and process parameters. Documentation ships with parts or is available electronically.
Every part is measured and tested before shipment
We measure coating thickness, check for defects, and verify specifications. Documentation is prepared for your records. Only parts that pass leave our facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Standalone ultrasonic cleaning turnaround is typically 3-5 business days from receipt of parts. Cycle time per batch is 10-30 minutes depending on contamination severity, but turnaround includes intake, pre-assessment, cleaning, verification, and documentation. For parts proceeding to coating, cleaning is integrated into the coating schedule and does not add separate lead time. Contact us at 970.541.7331 for current scheduling availability.
We use a multi-method verification approach. Water-break testing confirms DI water sheets uniformly across surfaces with zero beading, verifying the absence of oils and films. White-glove inspection checks for particulate transfer. For critical aerospace applications, dyne pen testing measures surface energy against your specified threshold. Rinse water conductivity is verified below 10 microsiemens per centimeter. Parts that fail any verification step are re-cleaned before release.
Yes. While ultrasonic cleaning is frequently performed as surface preparation before coating application, we also provide it as a standalone precision cleaning service. Standalone cleaning orders receive the same AS9100 process controls, documentation, and verification as cleaning performed before coating. Parts are returned clean with a Certificate of Conformance documenting all cleaning parameters and verification results.
Ultrasonic cavitation removes machining fluids, cutting oils, coolant residue, fingerprint oils, mold release agents, flux residue, carbon deposits, embedded particulates, and additive manufacturing support material. The cavitation action reaches contaminants in blind holes, internal passages, threads, and lattice structures that manual cleaning and spray methods cannot access. Solution chemistry is selected based on the specific contamination type and substrate material.
No. Ultrasonic cavitation is a non-contact cleaning method that does not mechanically abrade or distort parts. Cleaning solution chemistry is matched to the substrate material to prevent chemical attack. Alkaline solutions are used for aluminum, neutral formulations prevent hydrogen embrittlement on titanium, and polymer-safe solutions protect additive manufacturing parts. We have cleaned parts with wall thicknesses under 0.5mm without damage or dimensional change.
Start Your Polymer Coating Project
Submit your project details and receive a quote within 24 business hours.
