Wear Protection for Automotive R&D
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Prototypes Wear Before Testing Is Complete
Durability testing destroys unprotected surfaces
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why Cerakote for Automotive Prototype Wear
Consistent hardness across every prototype material
9H Pencil Hardness
ASTM D3363 verified across all prototype substrates. Uniform wear protection on aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, and 3D-printed components.
8,000+ Taber Abrasion Cycles
ASTM D4060 verified. Protects prototype surfaces through extended durability testing without premature wear that compromises test data.
Heat Resistant to 1,800°F
H-Series Cerakote withstands exhaust temperatures, brake heat, and under-hood thermal cycling. Wear protection that survives the thermal environments automotive prototypes face.
Show-Quality Durability
Wear protection with aesthetic finish quality. Prototypes maintain presentation appearance through testing cycles that scratch and scuff conventional finishes.
Automotive Wear Specifications
How We Protect Automotive Prototypes From Wear
Multi-substrate surface hardening with show-quality finish
Prototype Assessment
Substrate materials identified. Wear exposure conditions and testing requirements documented. Surface preparation protocol selected for each material type.
Surface Preparation & Coating
Material-specific blasting for optimal adhesion. Cerakote H-Series selected for maximum hardness. Applied at 0.5-2 mils with color matching across all substrates.
Hardness & Appearance Verification
Pencil hardness testing confirms 9H. Color verification ensures presentation quality. Adhesion and thickness documented for prototype records.
Proven Automotive Wear Data
Hardness and abrasion resistance verified through ASTM testing on automotive-relevant substrates. Data supports engineering evaluation for prototype protection programs.
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
Protect Prototype Surfaces
Send your prototype details and testing requirements. We respond within 24 hours with wear protection approach and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Every aerospace order ships with a Certificate of Conformance that includes material lot numbers, coating thickness measurements, cure parameters, and visual inspection results. Our AS9100 quality management system maintains full traceability from raw material receiving through final packaging. We support customer-specific documentation requirements and can accommodate source inspection visits at our Johnstown, CO facility.
Yes. Our post-processing sequence eliminates the layer lines and rough texture that identify parts as 3D-printed. Controlled blasting at 40-60 PSI levels the surface, and Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils fills remaining texture to achieve surface roughness below 3 micrometers. With 200+ colors and custom matching to Delta E 1.5, the finished result is visually indistinguishable from injection-molded or machined components. This show-quality capability makes AM viable for visible interior and engine bay components.
Yes. Valve bodies, flow restrictors, and downhole tool components with internal passages and complex geometries receive targeted blast preparation. Nozzle selection and blast angle are adjusted to reach recessed areas and internal surfaces. Critical sealing surfaces and threads are masked before blasting. The goal is complete SP 10 preparation on all surfaces that will receive coating, while protecting dimensions and features that must remain uncoated.
Yes. Raw AM parts typically exhibit Ra 8-15 micrometers depending on build orientation and technology. Controlled blasting at 40-60 PSI knocks down the highest peaks and partially trapped powder, creating a more uniform surface for coating. When followed by Cerakote application, the combined process brings surface roughness below 3 micrometers. This makes blasting plus coating the most effective surface finishing path for production AM parts.
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.