Wear Protection for Defense
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Field Conditions Destroy Conventional Finishes
Sand, impact, and handling wear are constant threats
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why Cerakote for Defense Wear Protection
Ceramic hardness that survives field conditions and decontamination
9H Pencil Hardness
ASTM D3363 verified. Ceramic surface resists sand erosion, tool marks, and sustained mechanical contact that wears through conventional mil-spec paint in weeks of field use.
8,000+ Taber Abrasion Cycles
ASTM D4060 verified. Quantified wear resistance for engineering evaluation. Outperforms phosphate, parkerizing, and standard military paint in abrasion protection.
160/160 in-lbs Impact Resistance
ASTM D2794 verified. Absorbs impact from drops, strikes, and rough handling without cracking or delaminating. Critical for equipment in active field conditions.
Decontamination Survivable
Maintains hardness and adhesion through CBRN decontamination protocols. Equipment retains wear protection after decon procedures that destroy conventional finishes.
Defense Wear Specifications
How We Protect Defense Equipment From Wear
ITAR-controlled surface hardening with full traceability
ITAR-Controlled Assessment
Equipment received under ITAR protocols. Wear exposure conditions and mil-spec requirements documented. Coating formulation selected for maximum hardness and field durability.
Surface Preparation & Application
Media blasting to specified profile for maximum adhesion. Cerakote H-Series applied for maximum hardness development. Thickness verified at wear-critical surfaces.
Hardness Verification & Documentation
Post-cure pencil hardness testing confirms 9H. Adhesion testing. Certificate of Conformance with ITAR-controlled traceability and all test data for defense program compliance.
Verified Defense Wear Performance
Hardness, abrasion, and impact resistance verified through ASTM testing under controlled conditions. Performance data supports mil-spec evaluation for equipment protection programs.
Field-proven durability
Cerakote's ceramic matrix delivers quantified wear performance that exceeds conventional military finishes while surviving the chemical decontamination protocols that strip those finishes away.
Pencil hardness
Impact resistance (in-lbs)
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 Defense Equipment From Wear
Request an ITAR-compliant wear protection quote. We respond within 24 hours with approach and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
We offer MIL-DTL-5541 Type I and Type II chemical conversion coating for industrial aluminum equipment and components. Type I provides 168-240+ hours of salt spray resistance (ASTM B117), while Type II offers 96-168+ hours using non-chromate chemistry. Both create a sub-micron layer that protects against corrosion while serving as an excellent primer for topcoat adhesion in harsh industrial environments.
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.
Yes. We welcome facility tours and source inspections at our Johnstown, CO location. Tours allow you to see our coating lines, quality lab, surface preparation equipment, and chemical processing capabilities firsthand. For aerospace and defense customers, facility audits can be coordinated with our quality team. Contact us to schedule a visit at a time that works with our production schedule.
Passivation preserves the existing surface finish of polished stainless steel, including mirror finishes, brushed textures, and bead-blasted surfaces. The acid bath removes only free iron and contaminants without altering dimensions or surface texture. For automotive show pieces needing specific colors or additional protection, Cerakote can be applied over the passivated surface with color consistency within Delta E 1.5 and hundreds of finish options available.
Yes. Agricultural parts often arrive with pitting corrosion from chemical exposure and moisture. Ultrasonic cavitation removes corrosion products from pit interiors and surface irregularities that blasting alone cannot fully clean. Corrosion products left in pits create adhesion weak spots where the new coating fails first. The combination of ultrasonic cleaning followed by sandblasting at 80-100 PSI produces the contamination-free, properly profiled surface that delivers maximum Cerakote adhesion and corrosion protection on agricultural equipment.