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
Defense equipment in the field contacts fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluid, solvents, and decontamination chemicals that degrade conventional finishes. Cerakote's ceramic matrix resists all of these chemical exposures while maintaining its 3,000-hour salt spray barrier and low-visibility appearance. This chemical durability means field equipment retains both its functional protection and tactical appearance through extended deployment cycles.
Cerakote's ceramic-polymer matrix creates a surface hardness of 9H on the pencil hardness scale, the highest rating available. This hardness resists scratching from contact with tools, hardware, adjacent components, and handling during assembly and service. Combined with 4,000 cycles per mil abrasion resistance and 160/160 inch-pound impact resistance, the coating maintains its protective and aesthetic properties under mechanical stress.
Yes. We operate dedicated low-pressure blasting at 40-60 PSI specifically for thin-wall, delicate, and additive manufacturing substrates. Reduced pressure prevents warping, peening damage, and dimensional distortion while still creating adequate surface profile for coating adhesion. Media selection is adjusted alongside pressure to match the substrate. This capability is critical for AM parts, medical devices, and precision aerospace components where dimensional integrity is non-negotiable.
Every part is solvent-cleaned and degreased, then media-blasted at 80-100 PSI with blast media selected for the specific substrate material. Aluminum, titanium, steel, and polymer substrates each receive tailored preparation to create the optimal surface profile for Cerakote adhesion. For parts requiring maximum corrosion protection, we apply chemical conversion coating and passivation before Cerakote, running the full stack under our AS9100 quality system.
Threaded connections and seal surfaces on oil and gas tools accumulate pipe dope, wellbore deposits, and corrosion products in thread roots and seal grooves that compromise connection integrity and coating adhesion. Ultrasonic cavitation at 40 kHz penetrates these tight geometries, dissolving and dislodging contaminants that brushing and spray cleaning cannot reach. For tools being recoated, verified thread cleanliness is essential for both coating performance and the mechanical reliability of make-up connections.