Wear Protection for AM Parts
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
AM Parts Are Too Soft for End-Use
Polymer AM surfaces scratch and wear immediately
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why Cerakote for AM Wear Protection
Ceramic hardness on every AM surface
9H Pencil Hardness
ASTM D3363 verified. Transforms soft polymer AM surfaces to ceramic-grade hardness. End-use parts resist scratching, scuffing, and contact wear in production applications.
8,000+ Taber Abrasion Cycles
ASTM D4060 verified. Protects AM parts from handling wear, particulate erosion, and mechanical contact that degrades uncoated surfaces in weeks.
Surface Finish Improvement
Reduces AM roughness from Ra 6-15 μm to under 3 μm while adding hardness. Wear protection and aesthetic improvement in one application.
Both Polymer and Metal AM
Same wear protection system works on SLS, MJF, DMLS, and SLM parts. One vendor and one coating process for all AM substrates.
AM Wear Protection Specifications
How We Harden AM Surfaces
Material-specific protocols for polymer and metal AM
AM Surface Assessment
Parts evaluated for material type, surface roughness, and wear requirements. Build orientation and support removal areas identified for preparation optimization.
Surface Preparation & Coating
Material-specific blasting for optimal adhesion. Cerakote applied in controlled layers for maximum hardness development. Cure temperature matched to substrate material.
Hardness Verification
Post-cure pencil hardness testing confirms 9H. Surface roughness measurement verifies finish improvement. Adhesion and thickness documented on Certificate of Conformance.
Verified AM Wear Data
Hardness and abrasion data verified through ASTM testing on AM substrates. Results demonstrate transformation from prototype-grade to production-grade surface performance.
Pencil hardness
Taber abrasion cycles
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
Harden Your AM Parts
Send your AM part details and wear requirements. We respond within 24 hours with surface hardening approach and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Yes. Agricultural equipment contacts fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and acidic soil conditions that aggressively attack metal surfaces. Polymer coating provides flexible chemical resistance that survives the field conditions, including impact, vibration, and temperature extremes, that agricultural equipment faces. For components like sprayer nozzle bodies, chemical tank fittings, and seed treatment equipment, polymer coating provides the chemical barrier that conventional paint cannot maintain.
ColoradoKote is ITAR registered and coats weapons system components, electronics housings, vehicle-mounted hardware, and field-deployed equipment for defense programs. Our facility in Johnstown, CO maintains the security protocols and documentation controls required for controlled technical data. We offer low-visibility finishes in earth tones, flat blacks, and custom tactical colors matched to program specifications.
We apply Cerakote in flat, matte, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finish profiles across our full color range. Textured finishes are also available for grip enhancement or aesthetic requirements. Each finish option maintains the same 3,000-hour salt spray protection and 9H hardness as the standard coating, so you do not sacrifice performance for appearance.
Ultrasonic cleaning reaches contaminants trapped in lattice structures and internal passages that manual cleaning cannot access. HVLP spray application with calibrated parameters coats complex external geometries evenly at 0.5-2 mils. For internal channels requiring coating, we work with your engineering team to develop application strategies during the quoting process. DFT gauge measurements verify thickness on accessible surfaces per our AS9100 process controls.
Yes. Industrial components returning for recoating or refurbishment carry accumulated carbon deposits, chemical residue, corrosion products, and aged coating material. Ultrasonic cavitation breaks down and removes these stubborn contaminants from all surfaces including complex internal geometries. For heavily contaminated parts, we may use sequential cleaning cycles with different solution chemistries to address multiple contaminant types. Parts are verified clean before proceeding to stripping, blasting, and recoating.