Cerakote Finishing for 3D-Printed Parts

What is Cerakote?

Cerakote is an exceptionally versatile ceramic-based coating available as a finishing option for many of your 3D-printed parts. It checks a lot of the boxes that help your parts last and offers an array of colors and other aesthetic options. Plus, it is REACH, ROHS, and Prop. 65 compliant. 

Applying Cerakote is essentially the same as applying any other coating or paint. Our certified Cerakote applicator mixes the coating and applies with a spray gun in a specialized, professional paint booth. That certification means your application will meet the highest specifications when using Cerakote.

Being a certified applicator, we can apply the full spectrum that Cerakote offers. It can also be applied at any finish level. For example, if you need the coating for functional purposes and don’t necessarily need a full custom finish, you can have the coating applied to your standard finished part. This works across technologies and materials.

Material Properties of Cerakote

Durability

Being a ceramic, Cerakote is an exceptionally durable coating that is resistant to abrasion, wear, and scratching. It's a great option when your parts will be exposed to harsh environments. 

Chemical Resistance

When applied properly, Cerakote finishes essentially are immune to exposure to solvents, acids, and bases. 

Corrosion Resistance

As with chemical resistance, a Cerakote coating has no problem when exposed to chemicals, salt water, and other corrosive substances. 

Thin Coating

A typical Cerakote application adds minimal thickness to your parts. If you are developing precision parts or have concerns about tight tolerances, this finish will keep your parts within specifications. 

UV Stability 

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light isn't a problem when your part is finished with Cerakote. Some applications provide 100% UV stability.

Variety of Colors and Finishes

Cerakote is also highly valued because it gives you great aesthetic options. We offer dozens of colors. If the sheen of the coating is a concern, note that it's dependent on the color that you choose, with some hues offering glossy, matte, and stain. 

Versatility

Whether your parts are printed in plastic, polymer, or metal, Cerakote is a great finishing option for most any part. 

Coating Types and Use Cases

There are different types of Cerakote finishes we can apply. The first stage involves picking out the series that is most appropriate in your situation. We offer series: C, F, H, Elite, and Glacier. Here's a quick comparison of some of the advantages of each: 

Beyond the chart above, it's always helpful to go to the original source for more information on each series. Earlier, we mentioned that there is a huge variety of colors available. Note that the colors available are dependent on the series that you choose. You might want to cross-check that the Cerakote finish you need for your printed parts offers a color that might be critical to your branding.

Common Applications for Cerakote Finishing

There’s a good chance that companies in your industry are already using Cerakote as a finish. Having a strong, lightweight, thin, ceramic coating is popular for a wide variety of applications. Among the most common industries using it are:

Aerospace

The need to survive extremes of temperature, pressure, and vibration dictates that anything on your parts must be incredibly rugged and tolerate those environments, something Cerakote does particularly well.

Automotive

Engine parts must cope with a wide range of temperatures. They also must endure rain, snow, road salt, and abrasives. That’s why you often see Cerakote finishes in car parts.

Aesthetic Finishing

Cerakote just looks good, no matter what series or color you choose. Compared to other aesthetically pleasing coatings like anodizing, Cerakote has a wider variety of colors to choose from. It offers a matte, satin, or gloss finish that looks uniform and even. Best of all, the combination of colors and finishes provides you with many options to dial in exactly the look you need. 

Military and Defense 

These applications require extreme durability, with the need to endure temperature extremes, protect from corrosion, and avoid scratching and wear.

Parts are coated in H Series Crimson

Protolabs is a certified Cerakote applicator. If you want to know more about how a Cerakote finish can help improve your 3D-printed parts, email our applications engineering team at customerservice@protolabs.com or call 877-479-3680.