Many of Zormot’s customers are very concerned about corrosion. They need to guarantee to their own customers that their products will arrive in excellent condition. For full corrosion protection, we offer a combination of three products: VCI film, VCI paper, and desiccant. Let’s talk about how they work together to protect objects from damage.
What Exactly Is Corrosion?
As a result of exposure to air or water, metal is oxidized, losing electrons. The end result is deterioration – a weakening of the metal structure. Unfortunately, most metals are easily corroded, and large or bulky goods are frequently transported by sea. On a ship or in a shipyard they are exposed to environments with high levels of humidity for prolonged periods of time. It’s nearly impossible to guarantee that in transit products or machinery will not be exposed to humidity, salt, or the open air.
For this reason, it’s easier to protect the products themselves with shrink wrap. Most types of shrink wrap have corrosion protection incorporated in them. The first product we recommend for full corrosion protection is VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor) film. This is especially important for very large objects or rust-prone items like machinery because without shrink wrap it’s difficult or prohibitively expensive to completely cover or enclose them.
The second protective product we offer is VCI paper. Zor-Pac™ VCI Paper is designed to inhibit rust and corrosion. The VCI chemical is impregnated within the paper and vaporizes itself from the paper, dissolving in any moisture that has condensed on a metal’s surface and rendering the moisture non-corrosive. VCI paper must be put on any object before it is shrink wrapped.
Desiccant provides the third and final part of full corrosion protection. A desiccant is a chemically inert dehydrating agent that eliminates humidity by absorbing the moisture from the air within an enclosed space.
VCI film protects objects from the elements by completely encapsulating them. Desiccant removes any moisture within the VCI film from the air by absorbing it, and VCI paper renders any remaining moisture non-corrosive.
Product Applications
Companies most interested in full corrosion protection include those who ship products overseas, those who have to store raw materials or finished parts for longer periods of time, and steel mills and foundries.
We recommend this full-corrosion-protection combination of products for any items that are sensitive to corrosion. Obviously, it’s better to store any items indoors rather than outdoors, but you should take care to fully wrap any objects on all six sides. A hole in the product will undo the effect of the protection.
For full protection of your moisture-sensitive materials, we advise using regular white shrink film with desiccant if the object will be stored out outside. Add VCI paper for additional protection if it’s subject to rust or corrosion. If the product will be stored indoors, using white shrink film is fine.
If you have any questions about the best methods for protecting your valuable products or objects, we are here to offer advice or assistance. Call us at 1 (800) 459-5422, and we will make sure you get what you need for your shipping challenges.