Corrosion Resistance for Automotive R&D
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Prototype Corrosion Undermines Durability Testing
Road spray and salt exposure attack unprotected test components
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why Cerakote for Automotive Prototype Corrosion
One coating system for every prototype material
4,000+ Hours Salt Spray Resistance
ASTM B117 verified across steel, aluminum, and 3D-printed prototype substrates. Protects components through extended durability testing without premature corrosion interference.
Multi-Material Protection
Single coating protects steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, and 3D-printed components with identical corrosion resistance. One vendor, one process, all substrates.
Chemical & Fluid Resistance
Resists brake fluid, coolant, fuel, road de-icer, and cleaning chemicals. Maintains barrier through the fluid exposures automotive prototypes encounter during testing.
Show-Quality Protection
Corrosion resistance with aesthetic finish quality. Prototypes stay presentation-ready through testing cycles that would destroy conventional protective coatings.
Automotive Corrosion Specifications
How We Protect Automotive Prototypes
Substrate-specific preparation for multi-material assemblies
Multi-Material Assessment
Prototype substrates identified and mapped. Each material gets the preparation protocol optimized for Cerakote adhesion and corrosion barrier formation.
Surface Preparation & Coating
Media blasting tailored to each substrate. Cerakote applied at 0.5-2 mils with color consistency across all materials. In-process thickness verification.
Cure & Quality Verification
Cure temperature matched to substrate requirements. Adhesion testing, thickness verification, and color confirmation. Documentation for prototype program records.
Proven Automotive Corrosion Data
Salt spray resistance verified on automotive-relevant substrates through ASTM B117 testing. Protection data supports engineering evaluation for prototype and pre-production programs.
Hours salt spray resistance
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
Protect Your Prototypes
Send your prototype specs and material list. We respond within 24 hours with corrosion protection approach and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Yes. ColoradoKote has maintained Delta E 1.5 color consistency across programs exceeding 20,000 parts with zero quality issues. This consistency comes from controlled process variables: calibrated HVLP equipment, documented spray parameters, temperature-controlled curing, and spectrophotometer verification on every lot. Material batch tracking ensures coating chemistry is consistent, and our AS9100 quality system prevents the process drift that causes color variation in high-volume production.
Yes. Raw AM parts, particularly polymer SLS and MJF builds, have surface and near-surface porosity that allows moisture and chemical ingress. Cerakote fills and seals these pores during application, creating a continuous barrier layer at 0.5-2 mils thickness. This sealing effect provides corrosion protection exceeding 3,000 hours salt spray on metal AM parts and chemical resistance on polymer AM parts that raw printed surfaces cannot achieve.
Aerospace components are blasted to SSPC-SP 10 near-white cleanliness at 80-100 PSI using media selected for the specific alloy. Aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and Inconel each receive tailored blast parameters to achieve optimal 2-4 mil anchor profile without hydrogen embrittlement risk or surface damage. The entire process is documented per AS9100 with traceable media certifications, pressure readings, and before/after surface condition records.
Passivation is especially important for additively manufactured stainless steel, which often retains more free iron and surface contamination from the printing and post-processing steps than wrought material. The ASTM A967 acid bath removes these contaminants and brings chromium to the surface, restoring full corrosion resistance. The process follows complex AM geometries with no dimensional change, preserving the precision your additive build achieved.
Yes. Engine room components face heat, fuel and oil exposure, salt atmosphere, and vibration that create a multi-threat environment for coatings. Cerakote's temperature range from -40°F to 2,000°F handles exhaust and engine heat, while its chemical resistance protects against fuel, lubricants, and coolant. The 9H hardness and impact resistance of 160/160 inch-pounds withstand the tool contact and vibration typical of marine engine rooms.