Cerakote vs. Anodize
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If you're looking for high-performance gear for your bicycle like pedals, cranks, chain rings, stems, etc., you have some different options when it comes to the coloring and/or coating.
Two main surface options that are frequently selected for bicycle parts are Cerakote and Anodize. In this article, we'll look at Cerakote vs. Anodize and cover some of the pros and cons for each coating / surface treatment. Let's get started!
What is Cerakote?
Cerakote is a specialized thin-film ceramic coating that can be applied to metals, plastics, polymers, and wood. Cerakote was developed by NIC Industries in the mid 1980s and is made today at their headquarters in Southern Oregon.
Similar to anodize, Cerakote's main objective is to coat parts so as to prevent oxidation (rust). Cerakote imparts a surface durability, hardness, scratch resistance, and flexibility to the coated part's surface.
Cerakote is available in over 6,500 colors with an ever expanding color pallet! New colors are being released every month as Cerakote grows in popularity.
What is Anodize?
Sometimes call anodizing, anodization, or just anodize, this is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of aluminum parts.
What does that mean in English? This process basically dips the bicycle parts into a chemical bath, runs high current through the bath, and chemically alters the surface of the aluminum to create a protective layer that prevents corrosion.
Colored dyes can also be introduced during the anodization process to give a range of fun colors - generally a dozen or so distinct colors are usually obtainable.
Why Anodize or Cerakote Your Bicycle Parts?
Why should you ensure your high-performance bicycle pedals, stems, crank arms, chain rings, and other accessories?
In short, your bicycle gear needs to be protected! Most bicycle parts are CNC machined out of aluminum alloy (either aluminum 6061 or aluminum 7075), and this aluminum alloy needs to be protected. If your bicycle parts have not had Cerakote applied, or have not been anodized, or otherwise protected, they can oxidize quickly and become damaged and unusable.
This is why when shopping for bicycle parts, nearly any bicycle part you could purchase will already be anodized, have Cerakote applied, or be otherwise protected.
Cerakote vs. Anodize - a Table Comparison
Here below is a quick table which compares and contrasts Anodize and Cerakote on key properties in which you may be interested:
| Property | Anodize | Cerakote |
| Durability and Strength | A | B |
| Corrosion Resistance | A | B |
| Color Selection | C | A+ |
| Color Consistency | B | A |
| Environmental Impact | D- | A |
Durability and Strength
As you can see in the table above, there is about nothing more superior when it comes to durability and strength than "hard anoidize". This stuff is really tough and resists denting and scratching.
Cerakote comes in a a solid 'B" grade though - it is no slouch! Cerakote resists denting, scratching, and is used heavily in the application of coating firearms because of its excellent properties.
Corrosion Resistance
If you are primarily concerned with corrosion resistance (an important factor for bicycle parts which can get scratched or dented) then Anodize comes out a bit ahead. Anodize is integrated into the aluminum surface of the part, so it is more likely to remain somewhat intact after a scratch or small ship. Cerakote offers good performance, but as it can chip off under extreme conditions, Anodize wins by a nose here.
Color Selection and Color Consistency
This category is no real contest - Cerakote comes out the clear leader. Cerakote is available in over 6,500 colors with new colors being added monthly. Cerakote colors can also be mixed together, right before application, to give an endless array of color combinations (millions). Colors are also tightly quality controlled by Cerakote and are tested with three different methods before batches are released for sale.
While anodizing can come in several colors, the number of unique colors available is really only about a dozen. Also, because the anodization process is as much of an art as a science, it is VERY difficult to get identical colors batch to batch. This means that if you order red pedals and later order a red stem, it will be almost impossible for these colors to exactly match. The only real way to guarantee matching is to run these parts at the same time as part of the same anodization batch. This is not really possible under normal circumstances!
Environmental Impact
When looking at the environmental impacts of Cerakote vs. Anodize, Cerakote stands out again as the clean winner in this category.
Cerakote does NOT contain any heavy metals, is VOC compliant in all 50 states, is REACH and RoHS compliant, and is California Prop 65 compliant.
In contrast, the chemicals used in Anodizing are some very nasty stuff! The chromic acid used in anodizing releases hexavalent chromium. Yes - that's the same stuff from the movie Erin Brockovich that gave the entire town cancer... Not good!
Final Thoughts
Here we've compared Cerakote and Anodize as surface treatments for high-performance bicycle parts like pedals, chain rings, cranks, stems, and more. Cerakote is a ceramic coating offering durability, scratch resistance, and is available in over 6,500 colors. Anodize is an electrolytic passivation process used to alter the physical surface of aluminum to provide corrosion resistance.
Cerakote excels in color selection and consistency, with superior environmental friendliness compared to Anodize. However, Anodize slightly outperforms Cerakote in corrosion resistance due to its integration into the aluminum surface. In terms of durability and strength, hard anodize ranks highest, while Cerakote still offers commendable performance.
Overall, Cerakote offers greater versatility in color options and environmental safety, making it a preferred choice for many cyclists!
Check below for a collection of our excellent bicycle parts using Cerakote:
