What Are the Different Cerakote Series?

Cerakote finishes demand precision, especially in surface preparation. Whether you’re working with the E, C, or H Series, proper media selection is critical to ensure optimal adhesion, consistent film build, and long-term performance. Each Cerakote Series has unique properties and prep requirements that affect blasting technique, nozzle size, pressure settings, and media type.

Understanding Cerakote series differences helps applicators streamline production, reduce rework, and meet coating specs with confidence.

Understanding Cerakote

Cerakote is a ceramic-based finish designed for high-performance applications where durability, corrosion resistance, and aesthetics matter. It’s widely used in firearms, automotive parts, aerospace components, and consumer electronics. A successful application starts with proper surface prep. To maximize Cerakote’s durable nature, it needs to adhere to a clean, uniform surface. Key steps include:

• Degreasing: Remove all oils and residues using the appropriate solvents.
• Abrasive blasting: If you’re using superoxaloy abrasive media, use EpiX MP to ensure a consistent anchor pattern, and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to avoid poor blasting performance.
• Handling: Wear gloves post-blast to prevent skin oils from contaminating the part.

Poor curing, a contaminated substrate, or incompatible base layers, such as applying Cerakote over a powder coat, can result in peeling or poor bonding. It is possible to apply Cerakote over cured Cerakote, but this requires full surface re-prep, including blasting and degreasing. 

Regulatory and Safety Compliance

Cerakote products are subject to strict local, state, and federal regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have guidelines for safe working practices with spray equipment and waste disposal, which include solvents, rags, and spent media. These regulatory bodies also require proper airflow to control overspray and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for worker safety.

Types of Cerakote Series

The E, C, and H Series Cerakote coatings each serve different performance goals, ranging from extreme heat resistance to durability in high-wear environments. These distinctions affect how the substrate should be blasted and what abrasive media works best. Here’s a breakdown of each series and what you need to know before surface prep begins:

Cerakote E Series vs. Cerakote H Series

Cerakote E Series is often described as an enhanced version of the H Series, both of which are oven-cure ceramic coatings. The E Series is an oven-cure, two-component ceramic polymer coating designed for tight-tolerance, low-friction applications. The H Series is ceramic-based and offers maximum durability and corrosion resistance for general-use firearms, equipment, and tools. While they share core performance benefits, such as corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, and metal adhesion, their design objectives, formulations, and ideal applications differ. 

The E Series is designed for advanced applications requiring high wear performance with minimal thickness. This is ideal for firearm internals, bolts, or side rails where dimensional accuracy is critical. The H Series needs a slightly more aggressive blast, typically 80 to 100 grit, to create a mechanical tooth for maximum adhesion in high. It’s easier to apply and offers a broader aesthetic palette.

Cerakote E Series vs. Cerakote C Series

Cerakote C Series and E Series represent two completely different application strategies — air cure and oven cure. The comparison focuses less on wear and more on substrate compatibility and thermal requirements. The C Series has strong ultraviolet (UV) and fade resistance and up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit temperature tolerance, working well on plastics, optics, metals, and composites. It’s ideal when heat curing isn’t possible, and it can withstand high temperatures. 

The E Series is strictly for metal substrates and is subject to wear, abrasion, or tight-fitting tolerances. It offers better chemical resistance and is used when friction and fitment are key, especially for internals or sliding parts. This means the E Series requires more precise prep to ensure it bonds cleanly to metal, especially in recessed areas.

Cerakote C Series vs. Cerakote H Series

The H Series and C Series comparison revolves around performance vs. substrate and thermal constraints. The H Series is a general-purpose, oven-cure coating known for durability and color range, while the C Series is the flexible, air-cure option built for specialty environments. The C Series is used when heat resistance or dry lubrication is required, such as engine components or suppressors.

Cerakote Series Similarities

While each Cerakote Series is engineered for specific use cases, they share a core foundation of quality and performance. These common traits help applicators standardize surface prep, streamline workflow, and maintain consistency across coating types. All Cerakote Series:

• Are manufactured to consistent standards: All Cerakote products are made in the United States, tested for batch consistency, and backed by NIC Industries certification, training, and technical support.
• Adhere to various substrates: Cerakote can be applied to aluminum, steel, titanium, plastics, polymers, and composites, as long as the substrate is properly prepared and the correct cure method is used.
• Enhance wear and abrasion resistance: Each Series is engineered to extend the service life of metal and composite parts under wear conditions.
• Require abrasive blasting: All coatings need a properly blasted surface that’s clean, uniform, and free of contaminants. Grit size and texture vary by series, but blasting is nonnegotiable.

Prepare Surfaces for Success With 10X Engineered Materials

Choosing the right abrasive media for each series of Cerakote is essential, as each Series coating requires specific surface profiles to bond correctly and perform under demanding applications. By aligning your blasting process with the coating type, you minimize coating failure, reduce waste, and deliver consistent, professional results every time. The right media is an investment in your business’s reputation, efficiency, and bottom line.

Superoxalloy abrasive, specifically EpiX MP, is the right choice for our customers who surface prep for a Cerakote application. With the ideal particle size distribution, it effectively removes Cerakote, leaving a clean, damage-free substrate. Contact 10X Engineered Materials today to learn more about our science-based abrasive media.