Non-Foaming Liquid Heavy-Duty Alkaline Cleaner – 5 Gallon Pail (Cortec® VpCI®-418 L)

Description

VpCI®-418 L is the liquid, non-foaming grade of Cortec’s VpCI-418 heavy-duty alkaline cleaner, built for power washing and high-pressure spray where foam is the thing that stops the job. It is a silicated formula that is safe on aluminum, nitrite- and amine-free, and it leaves short-term multi-metal flash-rust protection on the cleaned part. The 5-gallon pail makes 25 to 100 gallons of working solution.

Cortec describes the VpCI-418 family as its cleaner for industrial cleaning equipment: spray cabinets, high-pressure washers and vigorously agitated immersion tanks, where a foaming cleaner cavitates pumps and overflows the tank. VpCI-418 L removes grease, oil, stamping, drawing and buffing compounds from machinery, engine blocks and stampings, and because the silicate builder protects aluminum it suits mixed-metal loads. Rinsed well it leaves no residue, so it is used ahead of painting, pickling and plating; Cortec’s selection guide notes that silicated cleaners can leave a hard-water-type film if allowed to dry on the part, so rinse before it dries. In the Cortec Product Consultation Guide VpCI-418 L is rated 2 (inside storage) on carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, brass and solder. The same chemistry is available as a powder (VpCI-418) and in pre-measured water-soluble Safe-T-Charge bags for tank make-up.

Typical applications

• Machinery and engine blocks with grease and oil
• Removing stamping, drawing and buffing compounds
• Metal preparation prior to painting or pickling
• Pressure washing operations
• Offshore and marine equipment
• Spray-cabinet and conveyor parts washers
• Vigorously agitated immersion tanks
• Mixed steel and aluminum loads where the cleaner must be aluminum-safe

How to apply VpCI-418 L

1. Pre-clean. Knock off chips, loose soil and heavy grease so the washer solution lasts longer.
2. Dilute. Charge the washer or tank with water and add VpCI-418 L to the target strength. Start at 5 to 10 % and adjust to the soil.

3. Concentration in water	Mix	Use
   5 %	6.4 oz/gal	Light soils
   10 %	12.8 oz/gal	Medium soils; typical spray-washer setting
   20 %	25.6 oz/gal	Heavy soils

4. Apply. High-pressure spray in a cabinet or conveyor washer, pressure washer, or immersion with vigorous agitation. Heating the solution to 120 to 160 °F (49 to 71 °C) improves cleaning; about 122 °F (50 °C) is the recommended ceiling where operators contact the solution.
5. Rinse. Rinse with water before the solution dries on the part, especially ahead of paint, pickling or plating; dried silicate is hard to remove. A DI rinse gives the cleanest surface but can flash rust on its own, so keep the rinse short and dry promptly.
6. Dry and protect. Blow off or air dry. The inhibitor film gives short-term indoor protection; follow with a VpCI rust preventative such as VpCI-377 or VpCI packaging for longer storage.
7. Bath maintenance. Skim oil, cover the tank, and check concentration by refractometer or titration. Non-flammable; store at room temperature and keep from freezing.

Checking concentration

Concentration (% by volume) = 5.00 × Brix + 0.04 for VpCI-418 L in DI water, valid across Cortec’s 0 to 20 % chart. Target readings are about 0.4 °Brix at 2 %, 1.0 at 5 %, 2.0 at 10 % and 4.0 at 20 %. A 1 % solution reads pH 11 to 12, and Cortec’s chart shows working solutions between pH 11.0 and 13.0 across the range, so pH is a usable secondary check. Field water hardness, oil load 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-418 L; other elastomers were not reported. Check pump seals, hoses and gloves in your own working solution before committing a washer, and prefer nitrile, EPDM or Viton after a test soak. Silicated cleaners protect aluminum but should not be left to dry on the part. See the full oil and elastomer compatibility charts.

Where it fits in the Cortec line

VpCI-418 L is the aluminum-safe, non-foaming spray-washer cleaner. Its sibling VpCI-418 LM is the silicate-free, residue-free version that Cortec recommends first for ferrous spray washers; VpCI-408 is the mild, non-foaming choice where high pH is restricted; the foaming VpCI-414, VpCI-415 and VpCI-416 belong in dip tanks and manual cleaning. VpCI-418 L is a direct fit for the spray cabinets, conveyor washers and agitation tanks of Build-All and Magido aqueous parts washers, and a VpCI-377 rinse-stage additive extends the protection it leaves. Browse all Cortec cleaners and degreasers.

Field notes

A stainless-steel memorial at a Minnesota taconite mine began corroding within months of dedication. VpCI-426 removed the corrosion and brightened the stainless, VpCI-418 rinsed and neutralized it, and VpCI-386 Clear went on as the topcoat for long-term protection without changing the appearance. (Cortec Case History #081)

During an Angolan power-plant gas-turbine outage the compressor housing and rotor were washed, de-rusted with VpCI-422, sprayed with EcoAir VpCI-377 and wrapped in VpCI-126 EM UV film with a VpCI-111 emitter inside, with the same treatment on pipe spools and manifolds until restart. (Cortec Case History #821)

An Oklahoma waste-to-energy plant had 364 spare boiler tubes, bundled in twelves, unusable from internal rust after years outdoors. Each bundle was connected in series to a VpCI-422 circuit of tank, pump and hoses: circulate 30 minutes, soak 30 minutes, circulate and filter back, then a VpCI-418 LM circuit for a 30-minute rinse and neutralization. Two weeks for the whole job, and the tubes went into service. (Cortec Case History #835)

Specifications

pH	11–12 (1% aqueous)
Density	8.8–9.0 lb/gal (1.07–1.08 kg/L)
Non-volatile content	8–12%
Appearance	Slightly hazy yellow liquid
Dilution	Light 6.4 oz/gal (5%); medium 12.8 oz/gal (10%); heavy 25.6 oz/gal (20%)
Chemistry	Non-flammable, nitrite-free, with an inhibitor package for post-clean protection
Foam	Non-foaming; for high-pressure spray and agitated immersion
Builder	Silicated (VpCI-418 LM is the silicate-free, residue-free grade); amine-free
Residue	Rinses clean for pre-paint use; do not let dry on the part
Compatibility	Safe on glass and most plastics; will not affect paint adhesion
Removes	Grease, oil, stamping, drawing and buffing compounds
Operating temperature	Heating to 120–160 °F (49–71 °C) improves cleaning
Post-clean protection	Short-term multi-metal flash-rust protection
Metals	Carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, galvanized steel, brass (<30% Zn), copper; aluminum is not on the Cortec metals list — test first
Consultation guide rating	2 – inside storage
Shelf life	2 years
Storage	Original packaging, indoors, out of direct sunlight, 40–100 °F (4–38 °C)
Concentration check	Vol % = 5.00 × °Brix + 0.04 (DI water); working pH 11.0–13.0
Elastomers	Neoprene rated not compatible; test others
Other forms	VpCI-418 powder; Safe-T-Charge 5 lb water-soluble bags
Size	5 Gallon Pail
Shipping weight	48 lb (21.8 kg)
Availability	In stock
Cortec product number	11603077

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.