VCI’s

 What are they, what do they do & how can you be sure to get the best

VCI’s, VPCI’s are Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors or Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors. VCI’s are a selection of chemical compounds giving anti-corrosion properties to a variety of substrates such as paper, board, plastic & coatings.

The principle is simple really. If you were to export metallic components or steel coils you would use protective packaging to give the most benefits in the least stages such as using a Corrotek® VCI plastic bag or wrapper. Vapour pressure causes them to diffuse out of the carrier material and to settle within the packaging onto the metal surface. They settle onto metal surfaces in the form of an invisible film. Once there, they provide active protection against the breakdown of the passive layer.

This then creates an atmosphere in which the parts will be protected from corrosion in the following ways:-

Protection methods:-

1.      By utilising packaging such as polyethylene (non VCI products tend to be corrosive, this is easily checked by a Contact Razor blade test. FED-STD-101 Test Method No. 3005) you can immediately create a physical barrier from moisture, dust & corrosive agents.

2.      By sing Corrotek® Packaging a client can utilise the packaging as the corrosion protection.

3.      Corrotek® VCI components displace humidity through surface hydrophobisation.

4.      Corrotek® VCI’s are absorbed by humid moisture to minimise or eliminate potential attack.

5.      Corrotek® VCI’s diffuse from the carrier to the metal surface and settles upon the metal surface in a thin monomolecular layer not altering the surface dimensions.

6.      Due to the volatilizing nature of our Corrotek® VCI’s if a pack is opened for inspection the VCI’s will re-establish a protective atmosphere when closed up again.

7.      Corrotek® VCI’s alter the packages internal PH values to a level where corrosion cannot occur and establishment of the environment is swift with maximized duration.

8.      Corrotek® VCI’s are available to be dispersed into a variety of substrates from polyethylene products to papers, boards, chips, fluids etc.

9.      Limitations are minimised by our advanced formulation’s of Corrotek® products, however consultation and advice are free should you have any questions.