Image courtesy of Cortec Corporation.
When storage space is at a premium, industrial plants often must turn to outdoor racks or yards in which to let unused equipment or newly finished parts sit temporarily. The main problem with these areas is their exposure to harsh outdoor environments. Snow, rain, wind, high humidity, and sometimes even sea spray mercilessly attack equipment or metal parts sitting outside. Corrosion can be rampant as a result, eating away the integrity of assets that were once in good condition.
Manufacturers that forge or finish valves, die castings, auto parts, or any other type of metal component may be limited on space but need to hold the parts temporarily before their customers can receive them. For these industries, outdoor storage space may be just the answer needed, if only manufacturers could count on rust protection at the same time.
According to Cortec, the company’s Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor Technology allows simple and relatively easy protection of large internal void spaces and intricate surfaces through the use of VpCI emitting materials. These VpCI products work by releasing Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors into the air. When trapped inside an enclosure, the inhibitors adsorb, or “stick,” to metal surfaces, creating an invisible molecular layer that protects against the attack of oxygen, moisture, and chlorides — key elements that encourage corrosion. When the enclosure is opened, the VpCI molecules begin to leave the surface on their own, so that no special cleaning is required to remove the protective layer.
Cortec has integrated Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor Technology into a variety of different packaging materials to provide flexible and effective protection solutions for metal parts and equipment in all sizes. For the outside of equipment or parts, VpCI film such as MilCorr and VpCI-126 HPUV combine corrosion protection with high durability characteristics to withstand the attacks of wind, rain, snow, sun, and sea spray. On the inside of components, VpCI emitting material such as VpCI foam, pouches, emitters, or even papers provide an extra source of VpCI protection for larger internal spaces needing protection, with dosage based on volume.
Some examples of how VpCI materials can be applied include the following:
Constant monitoring is not required, although periodic checks once or twice a year can be helpful to make sure the protection system is still intact. When the equipment is needed again, it can be unwrapped without the typical cleaning and degreasing that would be required if using traditional rust preventatives. Often, the parts can be immediately put into use.
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