will ceramic coating change the finish?

[romulus]

Just want know if a ceramic coating will change the finish on a piece of chrome for example? Or is it a clear coat and it will look exactly the same?

[Norbie]

Ceramic is opaque. Yes, it will change the finish from metallic to ceramic.

[BillyM]

ceramic coatings are flat (insert color here). I've seen black, silver, and blue.

--BillyM

[Tire Shredder]

ceramic coatings are flat (insert color here). I've seen black, silver, and blue.

--BillyM
"chromex" a kind of a shiny silver coating is also available. However, it has temperature rating of 1300F (like the blue etc.). 2000F coatings are flat black or grey.

[romulus]

Is there someone out there who has photos of the different colors of ceramic coatings? I've seen a blue intake pipe at a speed shop. Don't know if it was ceramic coated. Probably powder coated. Would powder coating stand up to heat as well as ceramic? What would a powder coated green, then ceramic coated pipe look like?

[SilverMk2]

Go to Jet Hot's website if you want to see all the colors they offer for ceramic coatings. Ceramic coating is used where high heat resistance is required like exhaust manifolds. Powder coating is like paint which should be good to up around 400F which is the typical baking temperature.

[romulus]

Cool site! (Jet Hot) I'm still wondering what it would look like, if i painted say an intake pipe gold metalic, then have it coated. Would it still look yellow, just dull. Or would it turn dull silver?

[pdupler]

I would think that even if it would work, clear powder coating over paint would defeat the purpose. Powder coating is simply more durable than paint. A chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

[JoeBWanKenobi]

If anyone doesn't mind color of a component, there is a compound/coating from International Ceramics called ITC-100. It reflects 98% of the infrared (heat) the hits it and is good to 2500°F. It is used to increase heat efficiency in refractory kilns.

[romulus]

Pdupler, I wasn't saying powder coat over the paint, I meant ceramic coat over the paint. In other words, I would like a gold colored intake pipe, mirror finish like chrome, then have some heat and rust resistant coating that won't change the finish. Is there any kind of coating that will do that?

[yannis-supras]

I'm afraid you can't do that. In order to bond, ceramic coating requires oxide sandblasting of the surface in question and then whiping/cleaning with an acetone solvent.

[romulus]

What about other coatings besides ceramic? How about regular paint clear coat or Teflon? Woudn't they provide protection without changing the finish? Besides, I don't think the intake pipe will get over 200-300 degrees.

[BillyM]

...just get it powdercoated.

--BillyM

[yannis-supras]

I believe even a simple clear coat will do for that. I had my valve covers painted with a plain metalic paint without any special preparation (just a thorough clean up) and the finish was quite nice. The paint didn't chip or anything even under pressure hose washing. In your case you could use your color of choice for the intake and then apply some heat resistant clear coat on top. These are good for upto 400 celsious I think.

[romulus]

Sounds good to me. I think that's what I'll do. I'll check with a painter about the clear coat. I don't know if a powder coat will give that chromic like mirror finish, but I'll check it anyway. I think this is going to work out after all. Thanks guys.