Cerakote for Defense
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Why Defense Programs Need Cerakote
Where Parkerizing fails and compliance is mandatory
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why ColoradoKote Cerakote for Defense Programs
ITAR compliance and performance beyond Mil-Spec
Corrosion resistance that outperforms Parkerizing 3-6x
4,000+ hours salt spray resistance per ASTM B117 versus 500 to 1,000 hours for Parkerizing. That is a three to six times improvement in corrosion protection. Components maintain protective integrity through desert, maritime, and arctic field environments without requiring oil impregnation or secondary sealants. Cerakote is VOC-exempt in all 50 states and heavy-metal free, simplifying environmental compliance reporting for defense manufacturing facilities.
ITAR-registered with AS9100 chain of custody
ColoradoKote holds active ITAR registration with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Defense articles enter a controlled-access facility and remain under documented chain of custody from intake through shipment. AS9100:2015 quality controls govern every process parameter. Certificate of Conformance ships with every order, documenting part identification, coating specification, material lot numbers, cure parameters, and inspection results. AS9102 first article inspection capability is available for new defense programs.
Federal Standard 595 tactical color matching
ODG, FDE, Coyote Brown, and all Federal Standard 595 colors are matched by spectrophotometer to Delta E at or below 2. Cerakote provides 200+ standard colors with custom color development available in 2-3 weeks. Parkerizing offers only gray and black with no color customization. Anodizing provides limited color options with Delta E greater than 5 and works only on aluminum substrates.
All defense substrates from one qualified source
Parkerizing works only on steel and iron. Anodizing works only on aluminum. Cerakote bonds to all metals (aluminum, steel, titanium, stainless, Inconel) and polymers. One coating system, one ITAR-registered vendor, one quality package covers the full range of defense substrates. Thin-film application at 0.5-2 mils preserves the dimensional tolerances critical for weapon systems, optical housings, and communications hardware without post-coating machining.
Cerakote Specifications for Defense Applications
How We Apply Cerakote for Defense Programs
ITAR-controlled process with chain of custody from intake through shipment
Controlled Intake and ITAR Documentation
Defense articles arrive at ColoradoKote's controlled-access facility and enter chain-of-custody documentation immediately. Parts are logged against your purchase order, photographed for incoming condition, and assigned lot numbers. ITAR-controlled technical data is handled under secure protocols with restricted personnel access throughout the process. Build material and substrate are verified before any preparation begins.
Substrate Preparation and Cerakote Application
Each defense substrate receives tailored surface preparation. Aluminum components receive MIL-DTL-5541 chemical conversion pre-treatment for enhanced corrosion protection. Steel and titanium substrates undergo ultrasonic cleaning, degreasing, and controlled media blasting. Cerakote is applied via calibrated HVLP equipment at 0.5-2 mil thickness in a climate-controlled spray booth. Federal Standard 595 tactical colors (ODG, FDE, Coyote Brown) are verified by spectrophotometer during application. Parts cure at 250-300 F in temperature-monitored ovens with documented cure profiles.
Mil-Spec Inspection and Certificate of Conformance
Multi-point final inspection verifies coating thickness (DFT gauge), adhesion per ASTM D3359 (5B rating), pencil hardness per ASTM D3363 (9H), and color consistency (spectrophotometer, Delta E at or below 2 per Federal Standard 595). Salt spray test coupons from each production batch validate corrosion performance. Certificate of Conformance documents all measurements, material lot numbers, cure parameters, and inspection results. AS9102 first article inspection reports are available for new defense programs.
Proven Cerakote Performance for Defense
Defense coating performance is verified through standardized ASTM testing under AS9100 controls, not manufacturer claims. Every production batch undergoes the same inspection sequence, and results are documented on your Certificate of Conformance with full lot traceability and ITAR-compliant chain of custody.
4,000+ hours salt spray resistance
Validated against ASTM B117, the standard used across the defense industry to qualify corrosion protection coatings. Parkerizing delivers 500 to 1,000 hours on steel substrates only. Standard anodizing provides 336 to 1,000 hours on aluminum only. Cerakote delivers 4,000+ hours on all metal substrates, a three to six times improvement over Parkerizing. In comparative testing, competitor Xylan coating was pulled at 1,871 hours due to excessive corrosion, making Cerakote 87% superior. Defense programs can specify additional testing requirements, and ColoradoKote documents those results alongside the standard quality package.
Hours salt spray resistance (ASTM B117)
Other services to consider
Explore what else we offer.
Weight Reduction for Oil and Gas Equipment
Thick coatings add mass to equipment transported to remote wellsites and offshore platforms. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Medical Device Components
Surgical instruments must be light enough for hours of precise use. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating without compromising protection. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Maritime Equipment
Heavy coatings add mass to marine hardware that affects vessel performance and handling. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Industrial OEM Components
Thick coatings add unnecessary mass to engineered equipment. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils delivers 200-400g savings per part versus powder coating while preserving tolerances. ISO 9001 certified.
Certified and compliant for your industry
Start Your Defense Coating Project
Request an ITAR-compliant Cerakote quote. We respond within 24 hours with pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Yes. All additive manufacturing post-processing for defense applications is performed within our ITAR-registered facility under controlled access. The same 40-60 PSI blasting, ultrasonic cleaning, and Cerakote application process applies, with the additional security controls required for defense technical data and components. Documentation meets both AS9100 and defense-specific quality requirements for full traceability of ITAR-controlled AM parts.
Cerakote transforms the visible layer lines and matte texture of SLS and MJF parts into smooth, uniform finishes that are visually indistinguishable from injection-molded components. With over 200 colors available and spectrophotometer-verified matching to Delta E 1.5, we can match your production color specifications exactly. This makes AM viable for customer-facing components, not just hidden structural parts.
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.
Defense electronics housings require coatings that protect against corrosion and field conditions without altering dimensions on mating surfaces, EMI gasket channels, and connector interfaces. Cerakote's 0.5 to 2 mil film build maintains these critical tolerances where powder coat's 4 to 6 mils would require masking or post-machining. Less coating mass also reduces weight on man-portable electronics and UAV-mounted systems.
Every defense order ships with a Certificate of Conformance documenting material batch numbers, application parameters, cure temperatures, and all inspection measurements. First Article Inspection (FAI) reports per AS9102 are generated when required by your purchase order. All documentation is maintained under our AS9100 and ITAR-compliant quality system, with records retained per defense contract requirements.