We all have a tool or a piece of ferrous material (any material containing Iron [Fe]) that has
corroded. More so at the coast than inland.

The reason for that corrosion is that Iron as a natural element invariably wants to return to its
original state. The reaction between Oxygen, Water and Heat results in your Steel item corroding
and with the salt water from the sea air it corrodes much faster at the coast.

Steel can be protected from corrosion by covering or coating it with a corrosion preventative
product. Corrosion protection products come in the form of an Oily or a Wax based lubricant. There
is however a third option in the form of a plastic bag or brown paper that is treated with Volatile
Corrosion Inhibitor commonly known as VCI. A bit more information on the VCI bags later.

It is very important when you want to protect a part that you ensure that the following is done:
1. The part must be cleaned from other chemicals.
2. The part must be dry
3. Not handled by hand but by handling with gloves.

The reason for the above is that you want the corrosion protection product to be applied directly
onto the metal and not cover any contamination such as finger print marks, chemical or water that
might still be on the steel. The corrosion protection must completely cover the part.

Corrosion protection chemicals can be applied to the parts through dipping, painting or spraying.
The aim is to ensure that the whole part is covered with the corrosion protection, any uncovered
area will definitely corrode.

We at Chemical Solutions and Innovations supply all three forms of corrosion protection as
mentioned earlier
1. Oil Based – Ferrocote 5856 BF range
2. Wax based – Ferrocote 376 range
3. VCI Plastic bags or paper sheets.

They all have to serve the purpose of protecting parts against corrosion and the determining factor
would be the length of time of protection that is required, whether it will be stored indoors or
outdoors, the next step in the process of the part, whether it will be sprayed, painted, galvanised or
powder coated. From the above-mentioned information an educated recommendation can be made.
There are more Ferrocote products available for specific application and problems which a
consultant from CSI can assist with.

As for the VCI bags and or paper, you can cover any part with a VCI bag and store it for an extended
period without it corroding. By covering it with VCI you don’t have to use any of the Waxy or Oily
products mentioned earlier as small molecules exit the treated plastic or paper and attach to the
part. Therefore covering the part completely with a corrosion inhibitor. The VCI molecules can
attach to a part over a distance of 30 cm. Should the distance be greater than 30 cm, sachets of
inhibitor can be added in the form of VCI emitters in order to cover the complete part.

If you have a part already corroded, CSI also has a product that removes the rust from the parts. It is
a pH neutral product, therefore not acidic, called Evaporust. The corroded part or tools are submerged in the liquid for a period of time and the Evaporust removes the rust without affecting the part in any way. Only the rust separates from the part.