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
Marine deck hardware, including cleats, fairleads, hinges, and latches, faces salt spray, UV, impact, and constant vibration. Polymer coating provides a flexible corrosion barrier that withstands the repetitive loading and environmental exposure of deck-mounted equipment. The coating's flexibility means it does not crack under the thermal cycling between hot sun and cold sea spray that fractures rigid coating systems. Combined with proper surface preparation, polymer coating extends marine hardware life significantly.
Yes, and this is one of our most valuable additive manufacturing workflows. Passivation first cleans and protects the stainless substrate, then Cerakote adds 3,000 hours of salt spray resistance (ASTM B117) at just 0.5-2 mils. For AM parts, the thin Cerakote layer preserves fine features and tolerances that thicker coatings like powder coat (4-6 mils) would compromise. Few coating shops offer this passivation-to-Cerakote stack under one roof.
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.
Oil and gas environments combine salt water, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, high temperatures, and high pressures that overwhelm conventional coatings. Cerakote's 3,000-hour salt spray performance, chemical resistance, and temperature rating to 2,000°F provide multi-threat protection. Our passivation plus Cerakote stack on stainless steel downhole components creates the dual-layer defense these extreme conditions demand.
Yes. We offer a sample program, typically covering up to 10 parts. Sample orders receive the same AS9100 process controls as full production runs, including complete documentation and a Certificate of Conformance with all measurement data. Third-party testing is available if your quality team requires independent verification. Sample turnaround is 7 business days. This allows your engineering and quality teams to evaluate coating performance on your actual parts before committing to production volumes.