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
Cerakote's 3,000-hour salt spray performance and 4,000 cycles per mil abrasion resistance significantly extend the interval between refurbishment cycles on cabin interiors and high-touch components. Thinner film builds of 0.5 to 2 mils versus 4 to 6 mils for powder coat preserve critical tolerances on seat mechanisms and galley hardware. Longer part life means fewer removals, less downtime, and lower lifecycle cost for fleet operators.
We coat the full range of AM substrates: SLS nylon (PA12, PA11), MJF polymer parts, and metal additive builds including titanium, stainless steel, Inconel, and aluminum alloys. Cerakote bonds chemically to all of these materials. Surface preparation is tailored to each substrate type, with blast media and pressure (80-100 PSI standard) selected to profile the surface without distorting thin-walled or lattice geometries.
The complete marine coating stack, ultrasonic cleaning followed by sandblasting followed by chemical conversion or passivation followed by Cerakote, depends on contamination-free surfaces at every step. Ultrasonic cleaning removes the salt, biological, and chemical contaminants specific to marine hardware. Subsequent blasting creates the mechanical profile. Each step builds on the previous one. Skipping ultrasonic cleaning on marine components risks chloride contamination under the coating, which initiates corrosion that the coating was meant to prevent.
Defense components receive SSPC-SP 10 near-white blast preparation with media and pressure selected for the specific substrate material. All blast operations on defense work are performed under ITAR controls within our registered facility. Process documentation meets both AS9100 and customer-specific quality requirements. The combination of proper blast preparation with Cerakote application delivers salt spray resistance exceeding 3,000 hours on defense hardware.
Yes. Engine bay components face operating temperatures, oil exposure, coolant contact, and road salt that would rapidly degrade raw AM surfaces. Cerakote H-Series provides chemical resistance and temperature stability for under-hood AM parts, while V-Series extends protection to exhaust-temperature applications up to 2,000 degrees F. Our 40-60 PSI blasting prepares AM surfaces without distorting the thin walls and complex geometries that make additive manufacturing valuable for automotive performance applications.