Description
VpCI®-369 is an oil-based temporary coating that stays a wet film — protection plus lubrication for equipment in genuinely aggressive environments. 4,000 hours in the humidity cabinet. The 5-gallon pail covers roughly 530 to 1,590 sq ft depending on film thickness, enough for a season of chain, gear and machined-surface work.
VpCI-369 is the coating to reach for when the part must be protected and lubricated at the same time and will sit in an aggressive environment: anchor chain, wire rope, gear teeth, threads, slides and the machined faces of equipment on a drill ship. The oily film is translucent, scratch resistant and self-healing, so it closes over handling marks. It is on the qualified products list, is the commercial equivalent of MIL-PRF-16173E Grade 2, and carries four NSN listings. In the Cortec Product Consultation Guide it is rated 4 (outside, uncovered storage) on carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, brass and solder. At 0.21 lb/gal VOC and 99 % volume solids it is one of the few outdoor-rated preservatives that does not strain an air permit, and it can be cut with oil for dip tanks.
Typical applications
- Equipment preservation during storage and layup
- Dip tank applications
- Drill ship and offshore equipment
- Aircraft parts storage
- Power plant equipment
- Automotive and heavy equipment parts
- Anchor chain, wire rope and marine hardware
- Gearboxes, slides, threads and other parts that must stay lubricated
- Moving components on turbines and pumps during plant mothballing
How to apply VpCI-369
- Surface preparation. The substrate must be free of grease, oil, dirt, fingerprints, drawing compounds, rust inhibitors and anything else that would affect adhesion. Cortec recommends VpCI-440 or a similar phosphatizing pretreatment on production lines and a minimum of NACE No. 3 / SSPC-SP6 commercial blast on structural steel. No wash primer is needed on aluminum or galvanized steel for this product. The surface must be dry.
- Mixing and dilution. Power-agitate to a uniform consistency with a squirrel-cage or drill mixer. VpCI-369 may be thinned with mineral oil or mineral spirits up to 10 % by volume to adjust viscosity; Cortec’s brochure notes it can be diluted with oil for dip tanks. VpCI-369 D is supplied pre-diluted.
- Conditions. Apply between 45 and 90 °F (7 to 32 °C) with the surface at least 5 °F (2 °C) above the dew point. The product is not freeze-sensitive.
- Equipment. Spray, roll, brush or dip. HVLP or conventional spray: 0.009 to 0.021 in tip, 45 to 55 psi air and 10 psi fluid, 3/8 in ID fluid hose no longer than 50 ft, dual-regulated pot kept at gun height. Airless or air-assisted airless: 0.015 to 0.035 in tip, 1,800 to 2,500 psi, 3/8 in ID hose (a 1/4 in whip end is fine) no longer than 100 ft. Tip size depends on pressure and viscosity.
- Film build. Apply 1.0 to 3.0 mils (25 to 75 µm). Because the coating is non-drying, wet and dry film are the same. Theoretical coverage is 1,588 sq ft per gallon at 1.0 mil, so plan on roughly 530 to 1,590 sq ft per gallon depending on film.
- Drying. None. VpCI-369 does not dry or cure; the part is protected as soon as it is covered and the film stays oily. Wrap or crate so the film is not wiped off in handling.
- Cleanup. Clean tools with butyl acetate while wet; for dried residue use butyl cellosolve or MEK, following the solvent manufacturer’s safety directions.
- Removal. For a film at the recommended DFT: spray the surface generously with VpCI-414 at 60 % in water (the coating-removal strength on the VpCI-414 data sheet), let it sit 10 to 15 minutes, then power-wash at 115 to 160 °F (46 to 71 °C) and 50 to 300 psi. Repeat until the coating is gone. VpCI-414 is the alkaline cleaner Cortec specifies for stripping its temporary coatings; the EcoAir VpCI-414 aerosol handles small areas.
- Storage. Keep the container sealed and do not store above 100 °F (38 °C). Flash point is 248 °F (120 °C).
- See the Cortec coatings application guides and comparison table for the shared spray, prep and storage instructions across the Cortec coating range.
Compatibility
Cortec’s elastomer compatibility table lists VpCI-369 as compatible with Viton (FKM) at 10 %; other elastomers are not reported for this product. Where the film will contact seals, hoses or gaskets during storage, test a sample first. See the full oil and elastomer compatibility charts.
Where it fits in the Cortec line
VpCI-369 is the wet-film member of Cortec’s temporary coating family. VpCI-368 is the solvent-based sibling that dries to a waxy, dry-to-touch film and is the better choice where parts will be handled bare. VpCI-389 and VpCI-391 are the water-based films. VpCI-369 D is the pre-diluted version and the CorShield VpCI-369 aerosol covers touch-up and moving parts. The specified remover is VpCI-414. Browse the full Cortec VpCI line.
Field notes
A global steel and mining company shipping 30,000 railway wheels from Russia to the United States ran a selection including 264 hours of salt spray and months of open-warehouse storage. VpCI-369 beat VpCI-368 D and VpCI-325; 1.2 tonnes were applied by spray or brush at about 23.8 m² per liter (970 ft² per gallon). (Cortec Case History #751)
A construction-equipment OEM had pre-qualified VpCI-369 as a five-year indoor backup rust preventive for service parts. When the incumbent supplier failed in summer 2021, tinted VpCI-369 was ordered within two months and sprayed or dipped on all large service parts; in use since August 2021, it sprays easier and is expected to become permanent. (Cortec Case History #760)
An LNG module builder in Russia stored 28 to 60 inch pipe outdoors 6 to 12 months after open rail-car transit, rejecting solvent wax because removal had to be quick. VpCI-369 airless-sprayed in two passes to 60 to 80 µm (2.4 to 3.1 mils) at about 1 liter per 25 m² (1 gallon per 113 yd²) gave 12 months of outdoor protection. (Cortec Case History #673)
Specifications
| Salt spray (ASTM B117) | 500 hours |
|---|---|
| Humidity (ASTM D1748) | 4,000 hours |
| Volume solids | 99.20% |
| VOC | 0.21 lb/gal (25 g/L) |
| Coverage | 1,588 ft²/gal @ 1.0 mil DFT |
| Specification | Commercial equivalent to MIL-PRF-16173E (Grade 2) |
| Removal | Use a VpCI-41x series alkaline cleaner/degreaser |
| Shelf life | 2 years |
| Type | Oil-based temporary (removable) coating, non-drying; commercial equivalent to MIL-PRF-16173E Grade 2 |
| Listings | NSN 8030-00-244-1295, 8030-00-244-1297, 8030-00-244-1298, 8030-01-149-1731 |
| Film | Translucent, oily wet film; scratch resistant and self-healing; lubricates |
| Recommended film thickness | 1.0–3.0 mils (25–75 µm); wet film equals dry film |
| Viscosity | 10,000–45,000 cPs at 77 °F (25 °C); 50–70 s Zahn #3; 6,000 cPs at 104 °F (40 °C) |
| Weight per gallon | 7.5–8.4 lb (0.9–1.0 kg/L) |
| Flash point | 248 °F (120 °C) |
| Flexibility (ASTM D522) | ½″ mandrel (1.27 cm) |
| Dilution | Mineral oil or mineral spirits, up to 10% by volume |
| Dry time / cure | None; non-drying film, no force dry |
| Surface preparation | Clean, dry and contaminant-free; NACE No. 3 / SSPC-SP6 on structural steel; no wash primer needed |
| Application temperature | 45–90 °F (7–32 °C), surface 5 °F above dew point |
| Metals | Carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, brass, solder |
| Consultation guide rating | 4 – outside, uncovered storage |
| Removal procedure | VpCI-414 at 60% for coating removal, let stand 10–15 min, then power wash at 50–300 psi and 115–160 °F (46–71 °C) |
| Elastomers | Viton compatible at 10%; test others |
| Storage | Original packaging, indoors, out of direct sunlight, 40–100 °F (4–38 °C) |
| Size | 5 Gallon Pail |
| Shipping weight | 44 lb (20 kg) |
| Availability | In stock |
| Cortec product number | 12300041 |
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.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.