Ano
Specification
AMS 2482 PTFE Impregnated Hard Anodizing
The aerospace specification for PTFE-impregnated hard anodic coatings. A Hard Coat that carries its own dry lubricant, for parts that slide, seal, and cannot be greased.
What the specification covers
A Hard Coat That Lubricates Itself
AMS 2482 governs hard anodic coatings impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene. The Hard Coat grows porous at the microscopic level, and the impregnation step fills those pores with PTFE, so the finished surface is wear-resistant and dry-lubricated at the same time, not one or the other.
Engineers reach for the specification on valves, pistons, guides, actuators, cams, and packaging machinery components. The common thread is aluminum moving against another surface somewhere a wet lubricant would be a contamination problem, a maintenance burden, or physically out of reach once the machine is assembled.
Impregnation against a coating
Why the PTFE Has to Live Inside the Surface
Buyers comparing quotes often find one shop offering impregnation and another offering a sprayed film, at a lower cost. They are not the same product, and the difference shows up in service, long after delivery.
| PROPERTY | AMS 2482 IMPREGNATION | SPRAYED PTFE FILM |
|---|---|---|
| Where the PTFE sits | Inside the oxide pores | A layer on the surface |
| Wear life | Wears with the Hard Coat itself | Wears off the surface first |
| Dimension change | The Hard Coat's, nothing more | Adds film thickness |
| Flaking risk | None; there is no film to lift | Possible at edges under load |
SAE publishes the AMS specifications at sae.org/standards. The base coating requirements trace back to MIL-A-8625 Type III, and our MIL-A-8625 page covers reading that callout in detail.
DARK FINISH WORK · THE BENCHWhere it runs
One Shop, Both Steps, One Transit
The Hard Coat and the impregnation happen in the same building on the same clock. That matters more than it sounds like it should, because the common alternative is a Hard Coat shop and a coatings shop with a courier between them, and each handoff adds days and one more chance for parts to arrive marked.
Here an AMS 2482 part is a single job with a single date on it. Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 days once parts are on our dock, with expedites as fast as same day if a machine build is waiting on the part.
Questions
AMS 2482 Questions
What Is AMS 2482?
The SAE aerospace material specification for hard anodic coatings impregnated with PTFE. In practice it describes a Type III Hard Coat whose pore structure carries a dry lubricant, so the wear surface lubricates itself.
Is AMS 2482 the Same as the Branded Coatings?
Those are trade names for proprietary PTFE-impregnated coatings. AMS 2482 is the open specification, and a drawing citing it does not oblige you to buy a particular brand.
What Does an AMS 2482 Finish Look Like?
Typically dark gray to black, uniform across the batch, with a dry and noticeably slick feel. The exact tone depends on the alloy and the coating thickness.
What Lead Time Should I Plan For?
3 to 5 days standard, with same-day expedite available. The impregnation runs with the Hard Coat in our building, so an AMS 2482 part does not make a second vendor trip and does not collect a second transit time.
Does the Impregnation Add Thickness?
Effectively no. The PTFE fills pore volume that already exists inside the coating, so the dimensional change is the Hard Coat's alone. Size your allowance for the Hard Coat and you have sized it for this.
Where to go next
The Process Pages Under This Specification
AMS 2482 describes a coating built in two steps, and both of them have their own page here. If the drawing is asking for wear resistance without the lubrication, the Hard Coat page is the one you want.
Next step
AMS 2482 Without the Vendor Relay.
Hard Coat and impregnation under one roof, quoted from your print with one date on it.