One of the biggest challenges in maintaining spare parts, redundant machinery, and heavy equipment in a ready-to-operate condition is protecting these assets from corrosion and deterioration. The process can become expensive and overwhelming, especially as the cost of downtime, repairs, and replacement continues to rise.
Proper preservation techniques during storage, shipment, seasonal lay-up, and machinery mothballing are extremely important. When asset protection is needed for periodic lay-up or long-term preservation, Cortec® Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor products provide a practical, easy-to-apply solution designed to help protect valuable equipment and metal assets.
Cortec® VpCI® technology can help preserve equipment for periods ranging from several months to many years, depending on the product, application, environment, and storage conditions. In many cases, a well-executed preservation program can pay for itself by helping reduce corrosion-related damage, downtime, and repair costs.
A well-known global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives used Cortec® environmentally responsible products to help protect heavy equipment from corrosion during storage and shipment.
One of the first challenges involved corrosion-free storage of overstock surplus equipment kept in a yard near the sea. Due to the length of time the equipment had been stored in the marine environment, some painted sections had blistered and cracked, leaving bare metal exposed to corrosion.
The initial method used conventional paint to cover corroded areas; however, after one to two months, the paint cracked and corrosion returned. To solve the issue, Cortec® VpCI®-386 was applied to the cracked and corroded areas. An inspection after three months showed that the coating had protected the equipment with no further visible signs of corrosion.
VpCI®-386 is a water-based acrylic primer/topcoat designed to provide corrosion protection in harsh, outdoor, unsheltered applications. Its corrosion inhibiting technology helps protect metal surfaces by forming a protective barrier against corrosive electrolytes and aggressive environments.
VpCI®-386 forms a fast-drying, thixotropic coating that resists sagging and running while creating a tough, nonflammable protective barrier. Once dry, the coating provides extended protection for indoor and outdoor conditions. It is also ultraviolet resistant, helping support outdoor performance without cracking or chipping during prolonged sunlight exposure.
The same customer also needed a corrosion protection method for shipping large generators from Brazil to Japan. The ocean shipment would take approximately 90 days, and the generators needed to arrive corrosion-free.
To provide continuous protection against salt, excessive humidity, condensation, and moisture, Cortec® VpCI®-126 Blue was draped over the equipment. The edges were sealed with waterproof tape, and a heavy tarp was placed over the film for additional protection. When the generators arrived in Japan, there were no visible signs of corrosion.
Cortec® VpCI®-126 Series films combine advanced film technology with effective corrosion protection for metal products. Cortec® VpCI® films help protect metal parts from corrosion concerns such as rust, tarnish, stains, white rust, and oxidation during storage and shipment.
VpCI®-126 film can replace conventional rust preventative methods such as oils and desiccants in many applications. The film provides clean, easy-to-use corrosion protection for parts, equipment, and machinery that need to be preserved during shipping, storage, or lay-up.
ECORR Systems is an Authorized Cortec® Distributor offering Cortec® VpCI® corrosion control solutions for equipment preservation, packaging, shipping, storage, manufacturing, and industrial applications.
Cortec® and VpCI® are registered trademarks of Cortec® Corporation. ECORR Systems is an Authorized Cortec® Distributor.