Is this a valid technique? (Color application to metal)

[Elgin Clock]

OK, so I got into a discussion about our robot with someone on my team. I was told that we may "ionize" the robot and put some color on it.
I said that ionizing it would put a charge to it and kill our electronics (maybe not to that extent but anywho....)

Here is the conversation and you tell me (if you know) who is right or wrong, or if we are both right.

Me: ionize the arm???
Them: not yet
Them: post WPI
Me: dude.... LMAO
Them: the side panels will be shined like chrome by tomorrow
Me: :-\
Me: ionize??? LMAO I hope not, or all our electronics will be fried. Maybe you mean powdercoat it?
Them: no, ionize
Me: what the heck does that mean?? you're going to make it have static shock and kill the electronics??
Them: elgin youre blonde
Me: no i'm not.. you are
Them: ionize is to put color into the metal, the arm is negatively charged and the color stuff is psoitively charged and it is attracted then the arm is returned to normal
Me: OMG
Me: dude.. it's called powdercoating
Them: no its not
Me: yes it is
Them: powdercoating is another substance
Them: ionizing leaves the metal smooth and the color is all the way through
Me: WHAT?
Them: powdercoating leaves a powdery feel and the color is surface
Me: so it soaks into the actual molecular structure of the metal?? no way!!
Me: you're going to turn our robot into a sponge
Them: the metal keeps its integrity
Me: lol
Me: ok.....


OK, so I've seen the powdercoating process on American Chopper, so I know what is involved with that.
My question is "Is ionizing a valid process to put color on metal in the way he descibed it?"