VpCI-126 Blue VCI Zip-Close Bag – 24″ x 30″ 4 mil (Cortec® VpCI®-126)

Description

VpCI®-126 Blue is Cortec’s flagship vapor-phase corrosion inhibiting (VCI) polyethylene film, supplied here as a 4 mil reclosable zip-close bag, 24″ × 30″, the large size for sub-assemblies, pump and gearbox housings, dies and spare-parts kits. Put a clean, dry part in, press the zip shut, and the film does the rest: VpCI molecules vaporize inside the bag, condense on every metal surface, and hold off rust, tarnish, white rust and staining for up to 5 years, depending on film thickness and application. The zip closure means a part can be pulled for inspection and put back without a heat sealer, and it comes out ready to use with no degreasing.

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.

Typical applications

• 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
• Dies, molds and fixtures in long-term storage
• Electrical hardware and mixed-metal assemblies
• Coils, bar, tube and extrusions

How to use VpCI-126 Blue

1. 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.
2. Size the bag. At 24″ × 30″ this bag holds a sub-assembly, a pump or gearbox housing, a die set or a complete spare-parts kit; support heavy parts on a pallet or in a carton so the bag is not carrying the weight. The film should sit close to the metal with as little trapped air as practical; pad sharp corners with Cor-Pak bubbles.
3. Close it. Press the zip shut along its full length and check it is engaged. For export or multi-year storage, tape over the zip or heat-seal above it.
4. 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.
5. Unpack and reuse. Open the package and use the part; there is nothing to degrease. A zip-close bag can be opened for inspection and resealed within the protection period as long as the film is intact. The film is recyclable LDPE.
6. Store the packaging. Original packaging, indoors, out of direct sunlight, 40–100 °F (4–38 °C); shelf life 2 years.

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

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 Warren, Michigan stamping plant lost parts on ocean shipments to Germany and China and LTL loads to Mexico, where customers required 60 days of protection. An audit found hot parts going straight into dunnage; the fix was cooling airflow on the line, VpCI-146 paper between parts and a VpCI-126 bag lining each container. The corrosion stopped. (Cortec Case History #740)

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
Gauge	4 mil (100 µm)
Closure	Zip-close, reclosable; heat sealable above the zip
Format	Flat zip-close bag
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
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	24″ x 30″ 4 mil
Shipping weight	27 lb (12.3 kg)
Availability	In stock
Cortec product number	20800119

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.

Watch: How to prep and pack metal parts for rust-free shipment

Cortec’s one-minute demonstration of the routine we recommend: clean and dry the part, line the carton or bag it in VpCI-126 film, add a BioPad emitter if the package has air space, and seal it.