ZERUST® VCI products prevent corrosion in several ways:
- By acting as a protective barrier from external corrosive atmospheric elements such as abrasion, water, dirt, and acid gas pollutants.
- By emitting Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors that passivate the electron flow between the anodic and cathodic areas on metal surfaces and interrupt the electrochemical corrosion process.
- By adding water repulsion properties to the metal surface, which inhibit water from permeating the metal surface and providing the electrolyte for corrosion reactions.
The vapor corrosion inhibitor portion of ZERUST® VCI products is made of proprietary chemical formulations that are invisible, odorless, non-toxic, non-reactive, non-flammable, and non-allergenic. These chemical formulations release a corrosion inhibiting vapor that diffuses throughout an enclosure that either contains VCI formulations or is made from VCI materials and settles on exposed metal surfaces to form a microscopic corrosion inhibiting layer.
This protective layer will remain on the surface of the metal if there is no significant, continuous exchange of air within the enclosure. Ideally, there should be less than one air exchange per day (for example, when an electrical cabinet or package is opened briefly and occasionally). Once the metal part is removed from the enclosure, the corrosion inhibiting layer is no longer kept in place by equilibrium with the VCI source, and it dissipates from metal surfaces (typically within about an hour) leaving the metal part clean, dry and corrosion-free.
The vapor diffusing properties of our corrosion inhibiting formulations offer an important advantage over conventional inhibitor coatings since the traces of these gas molecules penetrate hard to access crevices, gaps, and slots. They also cover the surfaces of complex-shaped articles that are difficult to coat. They are adsorbed onto the surface of the metal to form a corrosion inhibiting protective layer that is just a few molecules thick. ZERUST® VCI products may also include acid gas absorbing chemicals in the packaging material to act as a barrier and add another dimension to the protection of the metal content. These “scavenging” chemicals react and neutralize the polluted air that may diffuse through the ZERUST® VCI material. Also used are various combinations of physical barrier properties that optimize the corrosion prevention and physical protection needs of our customers. These may range from plain low-density polyethylene (LDPE) material to combinations of higher strength, higher tear resistance, higher resistance to sunlight or UV, static charge dissipation, and lower diffusion for moisture or acid gas molecules.
ZERUST® VCI products offer corrosion protection without having to be in direct contact with or coated onto the parts that are being protected. Metal parts merely need to be enclosed in or with a ZERUST® VCI product (where airflow is minimized) for protection to occur. With ZERUST® VCI packaging, it is no longer necessary to apply messy oils, greases, and other corrosion protection compounds and incur the cost of their removal.
ICT®510-C Ferrous VCI Film provides cost-effective and targeted protection against rust damage for ferrous metals, such as steel, iron, and cast iron in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C VCI Multimetal Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against rust and corrosion damage for ferrous and non-ferrous metals in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C Non-ferrous VCI Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against corrosion damage for non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, brass, and bronze, in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C VCI Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against rust and corrosion damage for metal assets in shipping and storage. Additionally, it’s available in ferrous, non-ferrous, and multimetal formulations, as well as various-sized rolls, sheets, tubing, and bags.
ICT®510-C VCI Tubing provides versatile protection against corrosion, as the tubing offers a tailored packaging solution for parts of various sizes or long metal assets metals in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
Vapor Capsules are portable VCI emitter diffusers containing proven ZERUST® Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI). They protect metals in hard-to-reach areas of control panels, electrical cabinets, or other enclosed spaces from corrosion, even when they are in operation. Additionally, use these VCI emitter diffusers as a supplement to other ZERUST® VCI packaging products for added protection.
ZAK-M22 Vapor Capsules are portable VCI capsules containing proven ZERUST® VCI technology, used to protect metals in hard-to-reach areas of control panels, electrical cabinets, or any other enclosed spaces from corrosion. Each capsule has a QR code printed on the label to facilitate scheduling its replacement schedule.
Z-PAK® is an economical, effective, and easy-to-use vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI) diffuser packet that can be used alone or, more typically, with other ZERUST® packaging products to provide robust temporary corrosion protection for ferrous metals during shipment, storage, or work-in-progress.
ICT®432-35P is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive VCI kraft paper coated with a 3/4 mil plain polyethylene layer. As a result, providing the kraft paper with increased tear and moisture resistance, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for the corrosion protection of multiple metal types during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT®430-35SR VCI Scrim Paper is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive VCI kraft paper that’s scrim-reinforced (3/4 mil polyethylene layer and fiberglass scrim). As a result, providing effective corrosion protection with the convenience and affordability of a paper wrapping product with superior strength that avoids ripping and tearing during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT®420-35P VCI Poly Kraft Paper is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive kraft paper coated with a one-mil thick ZERUST® ICT® polyethylene layer containing Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs). As a result, providing the kraft paper with increased tear and moisture resistance, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for the corrosion protection of ferrous metals during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT®420 is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive VCI kraft paper that merges the practicality and cost-efficiency of paper-based packaging with advanced corrosion protection. Consequently, it streamlines the preservation of metals during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT® VCI Poly Bags provide convenient and proven protection against corrosion damage for metals in shipping and storage. In addition, they are available in ferrous, non-ferrous, anti-tarnish, and multimetal protection types and various zipper, flat, and gusseted sizes.
ICT® VCI Tote Covers are a convenient packaging product made of ZERUST® VCI film with an elastic band designed to provide a secure fit over totes and odd-shaped or protruding parts such as hub assemblies, protecting against corrosion, dirt, dust, smoke, and other contaminants while keeping them visible and easy to access.
ICT® Tube Strip is a flexible hollow plastic VCI emitter tubing product containing ZERUST® Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor technology. They are used to protect narrow tubes, pipes, and other enclosed spaces from corrosion or as a supplement to other ZERUST® VCI packaging products for added protection.
ICT®510-C VCI Weapon Bags are specifically designed to protect weapons, including handguns, rifles, as well as accessories, against corrosion, dust, sand, and humidity damage in shipping, storage, and between operations.
ICT® Plastabs® are thin, light, rigid polyethylene VCI emitter plastic tabs that are made with ZERUST® Vapor Corrosion Inhibiting (VCI) technology. Their small, thin shape makes Plastabs® perfect for protecting critical surfaces within narrow or hard-to-reach areas of electronics or parts of equipment or as a supplement to other ZERUST® VCI packaging products for added protection.
ICT® Open Cell VCI Foam Emitter Pads are a convenient way to provide added corrosion protection in packaging or an effective way to improve protection in demanding environments and on lightly contaminated parts.
