We conduct a variety of tests on our products, so we can confidently say that we are the industry leader in durability, hardness, scratch resistance, flexibility, and chemical resistance.
CERAKOTE Product Tests
15-month time-lapse
Outdoor Corrosion
See how Cerakote performs against traditional bluing. We exposed two identical bolt-action rifles to the forests of the Pacific Northwest for 15 months and documented it with time-lapse photography.
Corrosion of Various Coatings
Salt Spray Corrosion Test
The salt spray corrosion test is used to evaluate the relative corrosion resistance of a coated part exposed to salt spray at an elevated temperature. The chamber is maintained at an operating temperature of 35°C, and a 5% salt solution is atomized at the required 1.0 - 2.0 ml/hour. Based on the ASTM B117 test standard, Cerakote's H Series has exceeded 2,000 hours, and the Cerakote Elite Series has exceeded 3,000 hours.
Abrasion test
Taber Abrasion is a test using a weighted, constant-speed rotating abrasion wheel to determine the resistance of surfaces to abrasion and wear per testing standard ASTM D4060. Seven competing coatings, including Cerakote®H-146 Graphite Black, were tested per ASTM D4060.
Based on the ASTM D4060 test standard, Cerakote®Finished Strong outlasts the nearest competitor by almost two times, and the furthest competitor by 24 times.
Chemical Resistance
The chemical resistance of Cerakote was evaluated with a variety of solvents under extreme conditions. Coated panels were immersed in a solution for 24 hours. The samples were then removed and analyzed with a rating based on the average color change across all tested solvents. The results of this test are shown in the table.
Gen II IR - Camouflage colors for night and day
Coatings for night vision camouflage
Cerakote Gen II coatings provide signature management and concealment against next-generation night vision devices. This coating, exclusively for law enforcement and military, builds on the success of the Cerakote H-Series, which is used by more manufacturers worldwide than any other coating.
hardness
Hardness (ASTM D3363) is measured by using various pencil leads to cut through a coating surface. To perform this test, a coated panel is placed on a flat, horizontal surface. A weighted carriage with the hardest pencil lead (9h) is placed on the panel and pushed away from the operator. The length of the stroke should be approximately 6.5 mm. This process is repeated until a lead is found that cuts the coating less than 3 mm into the substrate. This is the pencil hardness rating. This process is then repeated until a lead is found that neither cuts through nor scratches the coating (this is the scratch resistance).
Cerakote® H-146 Graphite Black finished this test strong with a 9h result, the best hardness rating that can be achieved.
Color Measurement
During production, we use three different instruments to accurately measure the color and gloss of our coatings. The following instruments are used to ensure that the strict color standard is met for every batch produced by Cerakote®: the X-Rite Ci6X color spectrophotometer, the X-Rite AcuGloss reader, and the X-Rite Judge light box.
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Measures colors precisely to control color quality and uniformity in production
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Measures surface gloss quickly and precisely
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Simulates standardized lighting conditions so that colors and surfaces can be reliably assessed under controlled light
Impact Resistance
Durability
Impact resistance (ASTM D2794) measures the resistance of organic coatings to the effects of rapid deformation (impact). Impact resistance is measured by placing a coated panel in a universal impact tester. A standardized weight is then dropped from a certain distance with the aim of deforming the coating and the substrate. The indentation can be either an intrusion or an extrusion. By incrementally increasing the drop distance (2 inches at a time), the point at which failure occurs, due to cracking or delamination of the coating, can be determined.
All Cerakote Elite and almost all Cerakote H-Series have an impact resistance of 160 inch-lbs. This is the maximum that the impact tester can measure.
Photopolymers
Cerakote offers long-term UV protection for UV-sensitive photopolymers. We collaborated with PolySpectra on their COR (Cyclic Olefin Resin) Alpha material in an accelerated 1,000-hour UV test (ASTM 4587). The combination of the durable and robust COR Alpha material and Cerakote's C-Series coatings results in an excellent end product that can be used without problems in long-term outdoor applications.
Multi Jet Fusion
Adhesion Testing (ASTM D3359), Hardness (ASTM D3363), Chemical Resistance (ASTM D4752), and Color Stability (ASTM D1729) Cerakote is the industry-leading post-treatment for Multi Jet Fusion Nylon 12 parts.