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. Metal additive parts often have micro-porosity that compromises corrosion resistance and fatigue life. Cerakote penetrates and seals surface-connected porosity during application, creating a continuous barrier against moisture and chemical ingress. Combined with our chemical conversion coating and passivation pre-treatments, the full stack addresses both surface and subsurface porosity for corrosion protection rated at 3,000 hours salt spray (ASTM B117).
The corrosion protection from passivation is inherent to the stainless steel itself. By removing contaminants and maximizing surface chromium, passivation restores the material to its designed corrosion resistance, which can last the lifetime of the part in appropriate environments. For environments that exceed stainless steel's natural limits, adding a Cerakote topcoat at 0.5-2 mils extends measurable salt spray resistance to 3,000 hours per ASTM B117.
Yes. Agricultural OEMs use distinctive brand colors across their equipment lines, and replacement or aftermarket components need to match. We capture your brand color standard by spectrophotometer and verify every production lot to Delta E 1.5. Cerakote's abrasion resistance of 4,000 cycles per mil and chemical resistance to fertilizers, herbicides, and UV exposure means your brand color survives field conditions that destroy conventional paint within a single growing season.
AM parts typically show visible layer lines, powder texture, and inconsistent surface finish that limit their use in customer-facing applications. ColoradoKote's surface preparation at 40 to 60 PSI blasting pressure followed by Cerakote in any of 200+ colors transforms AM parts into production-grade components. Our Delta E 1.5 color matching ensures AM parts are indistinguishable from conventionally manufactured components in the final assembly.
Passivation is essential for stainless steel oil and gas components exposed to H2S, CO2, saltwater, and other corrosive media downhole and at the surface. The ASTM A967 process removes free iron that can initiate pitting and crevice corrosion in these aggressive environments. With no dimensional change, passivation preserves the sealing surfaces and thread tolerances that pressure-rated oil and gas hardware demands.