Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors, also known as Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs), are used to protect metal surfaces from corrosion. VCIs are the type of chemicals added to adhesives, powders, finishes, foams, and sprays used on ferrous items. These chemicals are used to create packaging, or applied on packaging of stored items to inhibit corrosion. This post discusses how VCIs work, and their application benefits.
How VCIs work?
VCIs slowly vaporize to create a protective coating across the entire volume of the storage system. When the vapor concentration reaches a certain level, some VCI crystals condense and penetrate deep into the surface of an item. VCI molecules can cover the entire surface of a ferrous item, including cracks and crevices. This film coating helps the ferrous surface to resist actions of water vapor with dissolved gas ions.
Effectiveness Factors
Generally, corrosion prevention occurs as long as the VCI chemicals remain active. Effectiveness of VCI depends on the following factors:
- Package integrity and porosity
- Metal composition
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Acidity
- UV Exposure
If the packaging is not airtight, VCI vapors may leak into the external atmosphere.
Benefits of VCI
Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors are considered ideal alternatives to surface treatments done to prevent corrosion. They offer the following advantages.
- Eliminates Extra Processing Procedures: VCIs eliminate the need for extra anti-corrosive procedures such as sandblasting, degreasing, cleaning, pickling, and rust removal.
- Helps Save on Additional Rust Prevention Measures: They eliminate the requirement for additional rust prevention oils and degreasing agents.
- Ideal for All Conditions: Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors offer effective protection from humidity as well as corrosive marine and industrial atmospheres. These chemicals give short-term, as well as long term protection in all phases of storage and shipping.
- User Friendly: These chemicals are user-friendly, and don’t cause any harm to any part of the body that comes in contact with it.
There are various other benefits of using Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors for industrial and commercial packaging purposes. Businesses can save time and money by judicious deployment of vapor corrosion inhibitors.