Corrosion remains a constant challenge, but manufacturers now have a smarter option. With Cortec®’s VpCI® packaging, in-process protection becomes faster and cleaner, eliminating the need for oily rust preventatives and harsh chemical cleanup.
Cortec®
is helping manufacturers tackle one of the shop floor’s most persistent challenges: protecting in-process metal parts from corrosion. Freshly machined components are highly susceptible to flash rust, especially when moving between air-conditioned quality control areas or enduring hot, humid conditions in unregulated parts of the factory.
Traditionally, workers would apply greasy rust preventatives to protect unfinished parts, only to remove them later with harsh chemical cleaners—an inefficient process that wastes both time and materials. Cortec®’s VpCI® packaging solutions eliminate this step entirely by offering clean, dry corrosion protection in simple packaging formats. Based on Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitor chemistry, these materials work by emitting protective molecules inside an enclosed space, forming a molecular barrier on bare metal surfaces without leaving residue—keeping production fast, efficient, and mess-free.
“Vapour phase corrosion inhibitors emit out of their foundational VpCI® packaging material, diffuse throughout an enclosure, and adsorb on the metal, creating a protective molecular barrier that blocks corrosive reactions with moisture, oxygen, chlorides, or other harsh elements. When the enclosure is opened, VpCI® molecules begin to float away, typically requiring no further cleaning before the component can be used,” states Cortec®.
VpCI® packaging is available in multiple forms, allowing manufacturers to tailor protection to their specific needs. These materials include VpCI®-126 film and bags, CorShield® VpCI®-146 paper, and VpCI® emitting products such as BioPad® and Cor-Pak® 8-MUL Pouches. Examples of in-process protection include:
- Lining a production bin with a VpCI®-126 gusseted bag, filling it with machined parts, and closing the bag after each addition. A BioPad® can be added if extra protection is required.
- Sandwiching layers of brake discs or flywheels between sheets of CorShield® VpCI®-146 Paper inside a bin.
- Covering racks or carts of gears with CorrCap™ VpCI® Protective Covers (customised shower-cap style versions of VpCI®-126 for easy removal and reapplication) and adding a BioPad® as an additional source of corrosion inhibitors.
- These materials can also be used for simple, effective protection during shipment.