Biodegradable Heavy-Duty Degreaser, Low VOC – 55 Gallon Drum (Cortec® VpCI®-415)

Description

VpCI®-415 is the biodegradable heavy-duty cleaner in Cortec’s line, carrying NSN 6850-01-583-3039. It is a heavy-duty, readily biodegradable alkaline degreaser with extremely low VOCs (0.52%) that leaves up to six months of indoor corrosion protection on the cleaned part. The 55-gallon drum is the format for depot-scale immersion tanks and shops that run a cleaning line every shift.

VpCI-415 exists for shops that want heavy-duty cleaning without the environmental baggage. It is a heavy-duty, very-high-foaming alkaline cleaner and degreaser developed for aircraft applications, removing oils, greases, dirt and carbon build-up, and it does so with extremely low VOCs and no ozone-depleting substances, ketones, RoHS substances or nonylphenol ethoxylates. Its near-neutral pH of about 8.5 makes it the gentlest of Cortec’s heavy-duty cleaners on operators and on mixed-metal assemblies, and Cortec’s dip-tank guide credits it with the best biodegradability results in the line. After cleaning it leaves a multi-metal inhibitor film good for up to six months of indoor storage. In the Cortec Product Consultation Guide it is rated 2 (inside storage) on carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, brass and solder.

Typical applications

• Military and aerospace equipment cleaning
• Aircraft components and ground-support equipment
• Heavy-duty industrial degreasing of oils, greases and carbon build-up
• Cleaning with residual indoor corrosion protection
• Metal preparation prior to storage or packaging
• Defense depots and contractors that need a biodegradable, low-VOC cleaner
• Dip tanks and foam cleaning where a high-foam product is wanted
• Neutralizing parts after VpCI-422 or VpCI-423 rust removal

How to apply VpCI-415

1. Pre-clean. Remove loose soil and heavy grease with a rag or pressure rinse so the bath lasts longer.
2. Dilute. Mix with clean water; mineral water is acceptable but may spot. Start at 5 to 10 % with a longer dwell and adjust.

3. Concentration in water	Mix	Use
   1–3 %	—	Very light cleaning; add heat or agitation
   5 %	6.4 oz/gal	Light cleaning
   10 %	12.8 oz/gal	Medium cleaning; neutralizing after acid rust removers
   20 %	25.6 oz/gal	Heavy soils, faster cleaning
   30 % to concentrate	—	Toughest contaminants

4. Apply. VpCI-415 is very high foaming, so use it in immersion and agitation tanks, foam cleaning and manual wipe-down rather than high-pressure spray cabinets. Heating to about 122 °F (50 °C) speeds cleaning and is the recommended ceiling for operator safety.
5. Dwell and inspect. Dwell depends on concentration, temperature, agitation and the soil. If soil remains, scrub or pressure-rinse, or return the part to the bath.
6. Rinse and dry. Rinse with water and air dry on a clean surface. The dry inhibitor film protects for up to six months indoors; add a VpCI rust preventative or VpCI packaging for longer or outdoor storage.
7. Bath maintenance. Cover the tank, skim sludge, and monitor concentration by refractometer or titration. Non-flammable; store at room temperature and keep from freezing.

Checking concentration

Concentration (% by volume) = 6.67 × Brix − 0.02 for VpCI-415 in DI water, valid across Cortec’s 0 to 25 % chart. Target readings are about 0.3 °Brix at 2 %, 0.75 at 5 %, 1.5 at 10 % and 3.0 at 20 %; the readings are small, so use a refractometer with 0.1 °Brix resolution. Neat pH is 8.0 to 8.7 and working solutions sit between pH 7.0 and 8.4 across the chart, a flat curve that makes pH a poor concentration indicator for this product; rely on the refractometer. Field water and other chemistry shift readings, so build a site-specific reference chart with your own process water. See the refractometer and pH charts for every Cortec product.

Compatibility

Cortec’s elastomer testing rates neoprene as not compatible with VpCI-415; other elastomers were not reported for this product. Test nitrile, EPDM and Viton seals and gloves in your own solution before committing a tank or pump, and confirm any aircraft-material sensitivities against the governing process specification. See the full oil and elastomer compatibility charts.

Where it fits in the Cortec line

VpCI-415 is the biodegradable member of Cortec’s foaming cleaner group. VpCI-414 cleans harder and strips temporary coatings; VpCI-416 is more alkaline, tolerates hard water and gives the strongest flash-rust protection; the non-foaming VpCI-418 LM, VpCI-418 L and VpCI-408 are the choices for high-pressure spray washers. In an aqueous parts-cleaning line VpCI-415 runs in the immersion, agitation and ultrasonic tanks of Build-All and Magido aqueous parts washers, where its foam is not a problem. Browse all Cortec cleaners and degreasers.

Field notes

A Racine, Wisconsin gear manufacturer used to blast or send out spare parts that had rusted in storage, delaying shipments by days. Now rusty parts are submerged in VpCI-422 for up to 20 minutes, rinsed, dipped immediately in VpCI-415, air-dried and shipped the same day; stock was later moved into VpCI-126 bags with BioPads so it no longer needs de-rusting. (Cortec Case History #489)

A Spooner, Wisconsin aerosol filler had rusting tanks and piping feeding its line, and NFPA rules require tank farms be protected from corrosion. The crew degreased with VpCI-415, pressure-washed, brushed CorrVerter on the rusted areas and sprayed VpCI-386 White as the topcoat, finishing four tanks and 200 ft of piping in about three days. (Cortec Case History #365)

A Minnesota township extended the life of a plow and salt truck with VpCI-415 pressure wash, VpCI-105 emitters under the dash, ElectriCorr VpCI-239 on electrical contacts, CorrVerter hand-painted on rust, VpCI-368 D pump-sprayed on the undercarriage, VpCI-369 on hinges and moving parts and VpCI-396 rolled onto the salt box, at far lower cost and labor than the alternatives. (Cortec Case History #175)

Specifications

pH	8.0–8.7 neat
VOC	0.52% — extremely low VOC
Density	8.3–8.4 lb/gal (0.99–1.01 kg/L)
Non-volatile content	14–16%
Dilution	Light 6.4 oz/gal (5%); medium 12.8 oz/gal (10%); heavy 25.6 oz/gal (20%)
Residual protection	Up to six months during indoor storage
Composition	No ozone-depleting substances, ketones, nonylphenolethoxylates or RoHS substances
Foam	Very high foaming; for immersion, foam and manual cleaning
Removes	Oils, greases, dirt, carbon build-up
Biodegradability	Certified biodegradable per EPA 796.3100 (aerobic aquatic biodegradation); meets EPA 600/4-90/027
Hard water	Tolerant
Operating temperature	Room temperature; may be heated, about 122 °F (50 °C) recommended maximum
Metals	Carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, brass, solder
Consultation guide rating	2 – inside storage
Concentration check	Vol % = 6.67 × °Brix − 0.02 (DI water); working pH 7.0–8.4
Elastomers	Neoprene rated not compatible; test others
Flammability	Non-flammable, water-based
Shelf life	2 years
Storage	Original packaging, indoors, out of direct sunlight, 40–100 °F (4–38 °C); freeze-thaw stable
NSN	6850-01-583-3039
Size	55 Gallon Drum
Shipping weight	480 lb (218 kg)
Availability	In stock
Cortec product number	11603667

Solvent Recycling Systems is an authorized Cortec® distributor. See the full Cortec VpCI line, browse the VpCI product selection guide, or contact us for volume pricing and lead times.