Good news for those of you that not only want to protect your AR-15’s parts against corrosion and other damaging influences, but want to personalize it as well.
America’s Rifle is so popular that there are tons and tons of manufacturers of AR-15s with treatments and finishes that kill those two birds with one stone.
Notably, two of these are Cerakote finishes and anodization. Both will protect your AR’s parts against corrosion and since they are available in a number of colors, enable easy personalization.
Here’s what you should know about each.
What Is Anodization?
Anodization is an electrochemical process that can be applied to aluminum; therefore, any anodized AR-15 part you see must necessarily be made of aluminum. Since many parts, such as the upper and lower, are, this should not be surprising.
Unlike some other types of AR part finishes, anodization literally converts the surface chemistry of the treated aluminum part into an anodic oxide. To keep things as basic as possible, the surface layer of the aluminum is literally chemically converted into a thin layer of oxide that penetrates down into the substrate.
As a result, the anodic oxide layer cannot chip or flake off. It could in theory be worn off, but it is extremely hard and to do so you would quite literally need to abrade away the top surface of the part.
This thin oxide layer is also chemically very stable, so it resists moisture, corrosion, and other similar factors.
Advantages of Anodized AR Parts
From the last section, you can already probably tell what some of the advantages of AR15 anodized parts are, but:
- Anodized parts resist wear and corrosion. The anodic oxide layer of anodized AR-15 parts is very hard and chemically stable. As a result, these parts better resist wear and corrosion than some other types of finishes. The chemical stability of these parts also means that fewer precautions need to be taken to keep the part free of corrosion.
- Anodized finishes cannot be easily removed. Unlike some other finishes, which can physically be worn off, the hard, thin layer of anodized aluminum is very hard and difficult to remove.
- Anodization can yield parts of a variety of colors and patterns. Anodized AR parts are available in a wide range of colors in addition to black, including blue, red, green, purple, gold, and more. The bright, reflective finish is very attractive to some shooters and enables them to easily personalize their ARs.
- Better permanent dry lubricity means easier cleaning. Another commendable physical property of anodized AR parts is that they exhibit very high permanent dry lubricity. In layman’s terms, this means that they are “slippery.” This helps prevent fouling from sticking to them, making them easier to clean. It also means that on any affected moving parts, less liquid lubricant can be used.
What Is Cerakote?
Like anodization, Cerakote is a treatment used to finish gun parts that confers many of the same advantages. However, unlike anodization, Cerakoting is a physical treatment that leaves a layer on the surface of the part without chemically converting it.
Instead, Cerakote is a special, ceramic-based finish (hence the name) that can be applied to a wide range of materials, not just aluminum. As a result, both steel and aluminum AR parts can be Cerakoted.
Cerakote is very thin, but it is also extremely hard and wear resistant. The ceramic coating is also very chemically stable, making it resistant to moisture as well as other corrosive agents.
Like anodized parts, Cerakote AR parts are also available in a wide range of colors, which gives home builders additional avenues to customize their guns.
Advantages of Cerakote Parts
You may have already gleaned some of the advantages of Cerakote parts, but here they are, enumerated:
- Cerakote coating is very hard and chemically stable. This means that Cerakote AR parts resist corrosion and are impervious to moisture. Like anodized parts, they exhibit a high degree of permanent dry lubricity, which also makes them easy to keep clean. In addition, they are thermally stable and resist high temperatures.
- Cerakote parts are available in a wide range of colors. This also gives home builders plenty of flexibility when it comes to personalizing their guns.
Can You Combine Cerakote and Anodized Parts?
While there’s no point in both anodizing and Cerakoting one single part, you can use both anodized and Cerakote AR parts on the same gun. Since only aluminum can be anodized, you can incorporate other Cerakoted parts into the build that are not made from aluminum, if you wish.
Explore These and More Here: Customize Your Rifle Today
We carry a wide variety of both anodized and Cerakoted AR parts. Shop our collection here and if you have any questions about what we sell, get in touch with us at Sales@MCSGearup.com.