Sandblasting and Surface Prep
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
How Sandblasting Prepares Your Parts for Coating
Every surface preparation job follows a controlled, documented sequence. Parts are solvent-cleaned per SSPC-SP 1 to remove contaminants, then blasted in a climate-controlled booth at 40-80 PSI. Post-blast inspection verifies cleanliness, profile, and dimensional integrity before handoff to coating within 2-4 hours.
AM-Specific Precision That Generalists Cannot Match
General coating shops blast every part at the same pressure with the same media. Additive manufacturing parts, with their thin walls and tight tolerances, do not survive that approach. ColoradoKote reduces blast pressure to 40-60 PSI for AM parts, selects fine aluminum oxide (80-120 grit), and verifies dimensions by CMM before and after blasting. The result: maintained tolerances of +/-0.005" on 95%+ of AM parts.
Documented Compliance at Every Checkpoint
Surface preparation is covered under our AS9100:2015 quality management system. Media type, blast pressure, surface profile readings, dimensional measurements, and operator identification are recorded for every job. ITAR registration covers defense article handling. Your documentation supports aerospace AVL qualification audits and prime contractor surface preparation requirements.
What proper surface preparation delivers
Surface prep determines coating adhesion, corrosion resistance, and service life. Here is what SSPC-SP 10 compliance means for your parts.
SSPC-SP 10 Certified Surface Cleanliness
SSPC-SP 10 near-white blast removes 95% of contaminants and creates a 2-4 mil anchor profile for coating adhesion. This cleanliness level prevents coating failure from residual oils, oxides, or handling contaminants. The uniform surface profile ensures consistent coating bond strength across the entire part geometry.
Maintains +/-0.005" Tolerances on AM Parts
ColoradoKote maintains dimensional control of +/-0.005" on 95%+ of additive manufacturing parts through controlled blast pressure and media selection. CMM verification before and after blasting confirms zero dimensional distortion on properly fixtured components.
Full AS9100 Traceability
Every surface preparation job is documented under AS9100:2015. Media type, blast pressure, surface profile readings, dimensional measurements, and operator identification are recorded for traceability. ITAR registration covers defense article handling. Your documentation supports aerospace AVL qualification audits and prime contractor requirements.
Technical specifications for sandblasting and surface preparation
| Specification | Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanliness Level | SSPC-SP 10 Near-White Blast (95% removal) | SSPC-SP 10 |
| Surface Profile | 2-4 mils (adjustable by application) | ASTM D4417 / SSPC-PA 2 |
| Profile Measurement Accuracy | ±0.2 mil | Testex Tape / Stylus Profilometer |
| Blast Pressure Range | 40-80 PSI (application-specific) | Process Control |
| Blast Media | Aluminum oxide, glass bead (60-180 grit) | Media Specification |
| Dimensional Control | ±0.005" tolerance maintenance | CMM Verification |
| Post-Blast Coating Window | 2-4 hours maximum | Industry Best Practice |
| Visual Inspection | 10x magnification minimum | SSPC-VIS 1 |
| Cleanliness Verification | White cloth wipe test | SSPC-SP 10 Supplement |
Certifications: AS9100 | ISO 9001 | ITAR | SSPC Operator Certified
Industries that require precision surface prep
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, inspected, and baselined
Parts arrive and are logged into our AS9100 tracking system. We verify quantities against your purchase order, photograph incoming condition, and assign lot numbers. For AM and critical-tolerance parts, CMM measurements establish a dimensional baseline before any blasting begins. Chain of custody starts here.
Contaminants removed before blasting begins
Surfaces are solvent-cleaned per SSPC-SP 1 to remove oils, greases, and manufacturing residues. Complex geometries and internal features go through ultrasonic cleaning followed by deionized water rinse and compressed air drying. Pre-cleaning prevents blast media contamination and ensures uniform surface preparation across the entire part.
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.
Critical features protected with precision masking
High-temperature silicone masking protects threaded holes, precision mating surfaces, internal passages, and areas requiring zero coating buildup. Masking locations are documented in the job traveler for AS9100 traceability. Tolerances as tight as +/-0.001" on mating surfaces are preserved through selective masking before any media contacts the part.
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.
SSPC-SP 10 near-white blast in a controlled environment
Blasting occurs in a climate-controlled booth with temperature and humidity monitoring. Media type and grit size are selected for the specific substrate: aluminum oxide at 60-120 grit for metals, glass bead at 120-180 grit for polymers. Blast pressure ranges from 40-80 PSI based on material and geometry. Operators verify surface profile in-process using comparators to confirm uniform 2-4 mil anchor pattern and 95% contaminant removal.
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.
Profile, dimensions, and cleanliness verified before coating
Final inspection confirms surface profile by Testex tape or stylus profilometer, dimensional integrity by CMM comparison to pre-blast baseline, and cleanliness by white cloth wipe test and 10x magnification review. All measurements are documented in the AS9100 quality record. Parts transfer to coating within 2-4 hours to prevent oxidation.
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 Surface Preparation Project
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