Corrosion Protection for Additive Manufacturing
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
The Corrosion Problem in Additive Manufacturing
Porosity turns AM parts into corrosion liabilities
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why Cerakote for AM Corrosion Protection
Seal porosity and protect in one step
Porosity sealing with corrosion barrier
Cerakote fills micro-porosity from powder bed fusion while delivering 4,000+ hours salt spray resistance (ASTM B117). Vapor polishing and tumbling improve cosmetics but leave surfaces chemically unprotected. Cerakote provides both surface sealing and functional corrosion protection in a single coating application.
AM tolerance preservation at 0.5-2 mils
Additive manufacturing enables complex geometries with tolerances of plus or minus 0.005 inches. Cerakote adds 0.001 to 0.002 inches per coated surface, keeping parts within their tolerance envelope. Powder coating at 4-6 mils pushes AM parts outside specification and requires post-machining that eliminates topology-optimized features.
Full traceability for aerospace AM parts
Every AM coating job is documented per AS9100 requirements with material batch numbers, cure parameters, and inspection data. Certificate of Conformance includes before-and-after Ra measurements and dimensional verification by CMM. First article inspection reports are available for new aerospace AM programs.
Multi-substrate compatibility across AM materials
Cerakote bonds to PA12, PA11, glass-filled nylon, AlSi10Mg, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel, and stainless steel. One coating partner handles your entire AM portfolio regardless of build material or print technology. Polymer parts cure at 250 F, below PA12 heat deflection temperature, preventing warping.
Corrosion Specs for AM Applications
How We Deliver Corrosion Protection for AM Parts
Material-specific protocols for polymer and metal additive manufacturing
AM Material Assessment and Surface Preparation
Every AM part begins with substrate identification: PA12, PA11, glass-filled nylon, AlSi10Mg, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel, or stainless steel. Polymer parts receive low-pressure aluminum oxide blasting at 30-40 PSI to avoid distortion of thin-walled features and lattice structures. Metal AM parts receive tailored blasting to remove support structure witness marks without altering geometry.
Thin-Film Corrosion Barrier Application
Cerakote is applied at 0.5-2 mil thickness via calibrated HVLP equipment, filling surface porosity while building a continuous corrosion barrier. Polymer parts cure at 250 F, below PA12 heat deflection temperature. Metal parts follow standard cure profiles at 250-300 F. DFT measurements confirm thickness compliance on every part.
Dimensional Verification and Corrosion Documentation
Post-coating CMM measurement confirms parts remain within the plus or minus 0.005 inch tolerance envelope. Before-and-after Ra measurements document surface improvement. Certificate of Conformance includes dimensional data, corrosion test results, material batch records, and cure parameters for full AS9100 traceability.
Proven Corrosion Protection for AM Parts
Corrosion protection on AM parts is verified through the same standardized ASTM testing applied to traditionally manufactured components. Every production batch is documented under AS9100 controls, with results included on your Certificate of Conformance alongside dimensional and surface finish data.
4,000+ hours salt spray resistance
Validated against ASTM B117 on both polymer and metal AM substrates. Cerakote seals the micro-porosity that makes raw AM surfaces vulnerable to moisture infiltration and corrosion initiation. AM production managers can specify additional testing, and we document results alongside standard Ra and dimensional measurements.
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
Protect Your AM Parts
Send part files for a corrosion protection RFP. We respond within 24 hours with pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
We offer 7-day and 3-day expedited passivation for defense stainless steel orders beyond our 14-day standard turnaround. For programs with mixed-material requirements, we can passivate stainless and apply chemical conversion coating to aluminum components simultaneously in our facility. This single-source capability eliminates the logistics overhead of coordinating multiple vendors on tight defense timelines.
Yes. Custom agricultural components, replacement parts for discontinued equipment, and low-volume specialty attachments face prohibitive tooling costs through conventional manufacturing. AM eliminates tooling while ColoradoKote's post-processing delivers production-grade surface quality and protection. The combined cost is often 40-60% less than conventional manufacturing for quantities under 100 units. Our 200 parts per week capacity and 14-day standard turnaround support both urgent replacement needs and planned seasonal production runs.
We handle industrial passivation batch orders of varying sizes with a 14-day standard turnaround, plus 7-day and 3-day expedited options for production-critical schedules. Our track record of over 20,000 parts with zero quality issues means consistent results whether you are sending 50 pieces or 5,000. Contact us with your stainless alloy, quantity, and spec requirements for a detailed quote.
Cabin interior components typically use H-Series Cerakote, which meets aerospace flammability requirements per third-party testing against Cerakote lab reports. The coating adds only 0.5-2 mils of thickness, preserving tolerances on latches, brackets, and trim components. Color consistency at Delta E 1.5 ensures visual uniformity across large cabin interior programs where hundreds or thousands of parts must match precisely.
Every chemical conversion coating order includes full lot traceability and processing documentation to MIL-DTL-5541 Type I or Type II specifications. For additive-manufactured parts entering regulated industries, this documentation chain is essential. Our track record of over 20,000 parts with zero quality issues gives AM producers confidence their parts meet spec from print bed to finished coating.