Description
Cortec VpCI®-126 Blue gusseted bags are the liner format of Cortec’s flagship vapor-phase corrosion inhibiting (VCI) polyethylene film: seven stock sizes from a 14″ × 10″ × 25″ carton liner to a 60″ × 50″ × 95″ pallet shroud, perforated on rolls for fast dispensing. The gusset lets the bag open square and conform around bulky castings, assemblies and full pallets, so one liner encloses the whole load in a single layer of film. Inside the closed liner the VpCI vaporizes, condenses on every metal surface and holds off rust, tarnish, white rust and staining for up to 5 years, depending on film thickness and application; the parts come out ready to use with no oil, grease or desiccant to deal with.
VpCI-126 protects aluminum, galvanized steel, carbon steel, silicon steel, stainless steel, copper, brass and cast iron, including mixed-metal assemblies, against salt, humidity, condensation and aggressive industrial atmospheres. In the Cortec Product Consultation Guide it is rated 2, inside storage, on all eight metals: enclosed packaging, uncovered indoor storage, and shipment inside a crate or container. For equipment that sits uncovered outdoors, step up to MilCorr shrink film. VpCI-126 replaces rust-preventive oils, greases and desiccant-only packs and removes the degreasing step at the receiving end. The film is transparent, heat sealable, free of free amines, phosphates and halogen-based materials, non-toxic, recyclable and typically made with 20% recycled content. Cortec extrudes it in-house, prints its logo and production-run number on the film, and tests every run for vapor-inhibiting ability (NACE VIA) and razor-blade contact protection before it ships. It conforms to MIL-PRF-22019D and MIL-B-22020D.
Typical applications
- Box and crate liners for castings, forgings and bulk machined parts
- Pallet shrouds over unitized loads of metal parts
- Gaylord and tote liners for loose hardware
- Machined parts, castings and forgings between operations and in finished-goods storage
- Fasteners, bearings, gears, tooling and gauges
- Spare-parts kits and MRO stock on the shelf
- Automotive, aerospace and defense components in transit
- Export packaging and ocean-container shipments
How to use VpCI-126 Blue
- Prepare the parts. Parts must be clean, dry and at room temperature, with no standing water, cutting fluid or fingerprints on the metal; let a part from a washer or a cold warehouse reach ambient before bagging so moisture does not condense inside.
- Size the liner. For a box liner, add 2 inches to the box width and depth for the bag width and gusset; for the length add the narrow side, the box height, and 6 to 10 inches for closure. A 24″ × 48″ × 36″ box takes a 50″ × 26″ × 70″ liner. Line the crate, load the parts, one layer of film around the load with minimal air.
- Close the liner. Gather, twist and tape the top, or fold and tape; heat-seal the mouth for overseas shipment. Do not leave the top open under a lid.
- Let the vapor work. Once closed, the VpCI vaporizes, saturates the enclosed air and condenses as a molecular layer on every metal surface, including bores, threads and recesses. Protection lasts as long as the package stays closed and intact; tape any tear immediately.
- Unpack and reuse. Open the package and use the part; there is nothing to degrease. The film is recyclable LDPE.
- Store the packaging. Original packaging, indoors, out of direct sunlight, 40–100 °F (4–38 °C); shelf life 2 years.
Standard gusseted-liner sizes (width × gusset × length), perforated on a roll. Custom sizes and gauges are available by quotation.
| Bag size | Gauge | Bags per roll |
|---|---|---|
| 14″ × 10″ × 25″ | 2 mil | 500 |
| 16″ × 14″ × 28″ | 3 mil | 250 |
| 26″ × 24″ × 42″ | 4 mil | 75 |
| 36″ × 32″ × 60″ | 4 mil | 50 |
| 40″ × 36″ × 80″ | 4 mil | 25 |
| 54″ × 44″ × 96″ | 4 mil | 20 |
| 60″ × 50″ × 95″ | 4 mil | 15 |
Typical mechanical properties by gauge; Cortec publishes these as typical values intended as guides only, not as specifications.
| Property (ASTM) | 2 mil (50 µm) | 4 mil (100 µm) | 6 mil (150 µm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaking factor, MD / TD (D882), lb/in | 9.3 / 9.5 | 18.4 / 18.7 | 18.9 / 18.3 |
| Tensile strength at break, MD / TD (D882-02), psi | 4,759 / 4,603 | 4,424 / 4,357 | 3,184 / 3,110 |
| Elongation at break, MD / TD (D882-02), % | 607 / 676 | 779 / 835 | 770 / 834 |
| Yield strength, MD / CD (D882-02), psi | 1,528 / 1,576 | 1,334 / 1,610 | 794 / 1,425 |
| Elmendorf tear, MD / CD (D1922-06a), mN | 3,755 / 7,966 | 11,160 / 15,414 | 15,853 / 20,279 |
| Dart drop impact (D1709-04, Method A), g | 347 | 790 | 753 |
Combining with other VpCI packaging
For a large void, a heavy assembly or storage at the long end of the range, add a second inhibitor source inside the bag: a VpCI-132 foam pad (8 ft³), a BioPad, or a VpCI-101 emitter in control boxes. Interleave nested parts with VpCI-146 paper; where humidity ingress is the driver, drop in a Desicorr VpCI pouch; pad sharp parts with Cor-Pak VpCI bubbles so the film is not punctured; mark the closed package with VpCI Protected labels or tape. Parts should be clean and dry before they go in the bag; see Build-All and Magido aqueous parts washers, and for clean-protect-package follow the wash with VpCI-377 or BioCorr.
Where it fits in the Cortec line
VpCI-126 Blue is the general-purpose LDPE film in Cortec’s range. VpCI-126 ES is the extra-strength grade for down-gauging to 2 to 3 mil, VpCI-126 HP UV the 10 mil transparent shrink film for outdoor lay-up up to three years, MilCorr the heavy-duty 10 mil UV-stabilized shrink film for multi-year uncovered outdoor storage, EcoWeave the woven sheet for heavy or sharp parts, Cor-Pak EX the 1.25 mil HDPE interleaf, and EcoSonic VpCI-125 HP bags the ESD grade for electronics. Within VpCI-126 the choice is format: 3.25″ × 5″, 12″ × 12″ and 24″ × 30″ zip-close bags (more sizes on the VCI zip lock bag listing), heat-seal flat bags, gusseted liners, and 6″, 12″ and 24″ tubing. The VpCI product selection guide covers the whole line.
Field notes
A Michigan maker of custom off-highway brakes saw spot rust on parts shipped in a competitor’s VCI bags. After a trial of VpCI-126 Blue, shipping boxes are lined with VpCI-126 gusseted bags and parts layered in straight off the line; no corrosion since the switch. (Cortec Case History #747)
An Illinois transmission plant rusted parts every Midwest summer despite a competitor’s VCI paper and film, and liquids were not allowed on the line. In a spring trial, parts interleaved with VpCI-146 paper and bagged in VpCI-126 sat in the shop 3 to 4 months without rusting; the plant switched by summer and reports no major corrosion issues in seven years. (Cortec Case History #777)
A Big Three engine plant in Ohio built 25,000 to 30,000 truck engines ahead of a plant sale and stored them up to two years in an uncontrolled warehouse, three per metal container, each in a custom VpCI-126 bag with four VpCI-131 foam emitters, sealed with polyethylene-rated tape. Inspections found no corrosion. (Cortec Case History #164)
Watch: How VpCI protects metal
Video by Cortec Corporation.
Specifications
| Product | VpCI-126 Blue vapor-phase corrosion inhibiting polyethylene film; patented |
|---|---|
| Protection | Up to 5 years, depending on film construction thickness and application |
| Metals | Multimetal — aluminum, galvanized steel, carbon steel, silicon steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, cast iron |
| Protects against | Rust, tarnish, stains, white rust, oxidation; salt, humidity, condensation, aggressive industrial atmospheres, dissimilar-metal (galvanic) corrosion |
| Consultation guide rating | 2 – inside storage, on all eight metals |
| Color | Transparent blue |
| Gauges | 2 mil (14″ × 10″ × 25″), 3 mil (16″ × 14″ × 28″), 4 mil (26″ × 24″ × 42″ and larger) |
| Format | Gusseted liners, perforated on a roll |
| Closure | Gather-twist-and-tape, fold-and-tape, or heat seal |
| Available gauges and widths | 2–10 mil (50–250 µm); 3″ to 32′ (7.6 cm to 9.7 m); ESD, coextruded and opaque constructions on request |
| Military specification | MIL-PRF-22019D and MIL-B-22020D; evaluated to MIL-PRF-3420G in Cortec military testing |
| Quality control | Every production run tested for vapor-inhibiting ability (NACE VIA) and razor-blade contact protection; logo and production run printed on the film |
| Chemistry | Free of free amines, phosphates and halogen-based materials; non-toxic |
| Recycling | Fully recyclable; typically made with 20% recycled content |
| Storage | Original packaging, indoors, out of direct sunlight, 40–100 °F (4–38 °C) |
| Shelf life | 2 years |
| Size | Seven stock sizes, 14″ × 10″ × 25″ to 60″ × 50″ × 95″ — select above |
| Shipping weight | Varies by size and roll count; contact us |
| Availability | In stock |
| Cortec product number | Varies by size; see the size table |
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.
