Cor-Pak Convenient Corrosion Protection for Packaging Metals

Cortec’s Cor-Pak 1-MUL Pouch. Photo Credit: Cortec

Cortec’s Cor-Pak 1-MUL/8-MUL Pouch is designed to raise the standard of protection to absorb moisture and prevent corrosion by supplementing or replacing desiccant when packaging metal components for shipment or storage. This corrosion protection for routine packaging of metals helps prevent corrosion when products are exposed to fluctuating temperatures, humidity and moisture condensation.

Desiccant serves the important purpose of absorbing moisture to protect moisture-sensitive goods. However, when used in this way to inhibit corrosion on metals, protection is limited. Desiccant offers passive protection by only eliminating the source of the problem to the extent that it can absorb moisture. Unfortunately, if there is not enough desiccant to absorb all moisture in the environment, the attempt at corrosion protection may fail.

In contrast, Cor-Pak 1-MUL/8-MUL Pouches offer active corrosion protection, even in the presence of residual moisture. Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor (VpCI) powder inside the pouches vaporize and escape through the pouch’s breathable membrane, traveling to and adsorbing on all metal surfaces in the enclosure. This VpCI molecular layer actively protects the metal by hindering the normal corrosion reaction between metal, oxygen and an electrolyte (for example, water) from taking place. When the package is opened and the metal components removed, the VpCI layer does not require cleaning because it simply evaporates.

Cor-Pak 1-MUL/8-MUL Pouches can be used alone or in conjunction with desiccant or other VpCI packaging materials. Application is very similar to desiccant pouches — the pouches are easy to insert into the package manually or automatically. As its name implies, one Cor-Pak 1-MUL pouch provides enough protection for up to 1.0 ft³ (28 L) of enclosed space. One 8-MUL pouch provides enough protection for up to 8 ft³ (0.23 m³).

The pouches can be added as the sole source of corrosion protection inside standard corrugated boxes, plastic bags, or wood or metal containers. They can also be used as an extra source of VpCI to complement other VpCI packaging materials. For example, while VpCI-126 bags or film do emit VpCI, adding a Cor-Pak 1-MUL or 8-MUL Pouch ensures a plentiful dose of VpCI is present within the container when extra protection may be needed based on the size of the enclosure, the length of the storage period or the harshness of the environment.

The Cor-Pak 1-MUL/8-MUL Pouch can be used for almost any metal part that is packaged in a relatively small enclosure. Possible uses include protection of completed assemblies, parts and components; parts in antistatic packages; motors; mechanical controls; precision machined or stamped parts; marine and commercial electronic equipment; and tools.

Real-life examples range from storing power plant spare fuses with a Cor-Pak 1-MUL Pouch inside a VpCI-126 EM UV Bag, to long-term storage of rear differential units (automotive service parts that might not be needed for 15 years) with a Cor-Pak 1-MUL/8-MUL Pouch wrapped inside CorrLam LD VpCI Barrier Laminate.