Description
VpCI®-170 is Cortec’s adhesive-backed foam tape for control boxes, cabinets and electrical enclosures: a 20′ × 2″ × ¼″ roll of open-cell polyurethane foam impregnated with vapor-phase corrosion inhibitor. Cut a length, peel the liner and stick it inside the enclosure; every linear inch protects 1 ft³ (28 L) of enclosed volume, so a 20-foot roll covers about 240 ft³ in total. It protects the terminals, relays, contacts and housings inside operating, stored or shipped equipment for up to 24 months with no spraying, wiping or dipping.
VpCI-170 is the wide version of Cortec’s patented foam tape pair (VpCI-150 is the ¾″ tape). Both are dual action, VpCI plus desiccant, and both are static dissipative, so they can sit next to sensitive electronics without altering electrical, optical or mechanical surface properties. The inhibitor is effective against salt, airborne contaminants, H2S, SO2 and NH3, and the tape protects copper, aluminum, steel and stainless steel, the metals found in most panels. It is free of nitrites, silicones and phosphates and has low VOC. In the Cortec Product Consultation Guide VpCI-150/170 are rated 1, enclosed: they work inside a closed housing, not on an open frame. In practice the tape replaces periodic contact-cleaner sprays and silica-gel packs in cabinets, and it is the emitter format that fits where a round cup or a pad will not.
Typical applications
- Operating, packaged and stored electrical equipment
- Electrical and electronic enclosures, junction and terminal boxes, wireways
- Switching equipment, low and high voltage; fuse boxes and power boxes
- AC and DC electric motors and motor control centers
- Marine navigation and communication equipment
- Telecommunications and remote electronic devices
- Scientific and measuring instruments
- Conductive leads, connectors and terminals
How to use VpCI-170
- Pick the spot. Choose a surface inside the enclosure that is out of the way of moving parts and heat sources; the tape can be installed in any position, including upside down under a lid.
- Size the length. One linear inch per 1 ft³ (28 L) of enclosure volume. A 24″ × 24″ × 12″ panel (4 ft³) needs a 4″ piece; a 6 ft³ motor control section needs 6″. Round up, and split the run into two pieces at opposite ends of a long cabinet.
- Clean the mounting surface. Verify it is clean and free of dust, oil and debris; a quick wipe with ElectriCorr VpCI-238 or isopropyl alcohol is enough.
- Cut, peel and press. Cut the length with shears, peel the release strip from the back and press the tape firmly to the surface. Do not compress the foam afterward; pressure can wring inhibitor out of the substrate.
- Close the enclosure. The VpCI vapor fills the housing within about a day and condenses as a molecular layer on every metal surface, including recesses a spray cannot reach. Protection is continuous for up to 24 months during operation or shutdown.
- Replace on a schedule. If the enclosure is not airtight, or the doors are opened frequently, replace the tape more often than every two years; replace it after any period of heavy maintenance. For extra protection lightly mist the enclosure with ElectriCorr VpCI-238 (indoor) or VpCI-239 (outdoor) at the same time.
- Store unused tape sealed. Keep the roll in its bag; Cortec’s VpCI foams carry a 2-year shelf life sealed in the original package.
Combining with other VpCI packaging
In an equipment mothballing or export package VpCI-170 is the emitter for the electrical section while the rest of the machine is handled by the packaging line: VpCI-132 foam pads or BioPad in the mechanical voids, MilCorr or VpCI-126 HP UV shrink film outside for outdoor storage, and a VpCI-126 bag for indoor storage or container shipment. Cortec’s outdoor-storage recipe for heavy equipment is MilCorr shrink wrap with VpCI-105 or VpCI-111 emitters placed near the electrical components; VpCI-170 does the same job in a tape format.
Where it fits in the Cortec line
Cortec offers four emitter formats for enclosures. VpCI-101 is a 3″ × 1¼″ self-stick foam device rated 1 ft³, ideal for small boxes and instruments; VpCI-105 (5 ft³) and VpCI-111 (11 ft³) are Tyvek-membrane cups with a self-stick back and date label; VpCI-170 tape is dosed by the inch, so one roll handles cabinets from 1 ft³ to well over 100 ft³ and fits in narrow channels. The 1″ VpCI-133 adhesive square (0.25 ft³) covers the smallest housings. For panels that also need cleaning, pair the tape with ElectriCorr VpCI-238. See the full Cortec VpCI line or the VpCI product selection guide.
Field notes
A UK power station had three turbines already rusting under tarps in a planned 2 to 3 year outdoor storage. VpCI-132 foam pads around each turbine and VpCI-126 HP UV film shrunk over them with a propane gun gave low-cost outdoor storage for up to 3 years. (Cortec Case History #491)
A Milwaukee, Wisconsin machine shop packed a spare marine-engine crankshaft for up to 10 years: VpCI-369 brushed into every surface and hole, the shaft laid on 10 mil VpCI-126 HP UV film in a long metal box with BioPads throughout, a second sheet over the bracing, and the film heat-shrink-taped with the upper layer overlapping the lower as a watershed. Fit for indoor or outdoor storage. (Cortec Case History #729)
An Italian fabricator building 54 tanks and vessels for a U.S. Gulf Coast LNG project washed the internals with 5% VpCI-418 LM and, before shipment, installed BioPad at 1 m² per 4.5 m³ (11 ft² per 159 ft³) of internal volume. No corrosion through fabrication; residue-free removal at destination. (Cortec Case History #639)
Specifications
| Protects | 1 cubic foot (28.3 L) per linear inch (2.5 cm); about 240 ft³ per 20′ roll |
|---|---|
| Protection period | Up to 24 months during operation and shutdown |
| Metals | Copper, aluminum, steel, stainless steel |
| Function | VpCI emitter, desiccant action and static dissipation |
| Construction | Open-cell polyurethane foam impregnated with VpCI, adhesive backing with release strip |
| Composition | Free of nitrites, silicones and phosphates; low VOC |
| ESD | Meets MIL-B-81705C for static dissipative materials |
| VIA test | Conforms to the vapor inhibiting ability test per MIL-B-22110 |
| Maximum temperature | 185 °F (85 °C) |
| Listings | NSN #8030-01-208-1769; NATO #8030-00-244-1299 |
| Consultation guide rating | 1 – enclosed (cabinets, control boxes, housings) |
| Installation | Cut to length, peel and stick; any position |
| Replacement | Every 2 years; sooner if the enclosure is not airtight or is opened often, and after heavy maintenance |
| Shelf life | 2 years sealed in the original package |
| Size | 20′ × 2″ × ¼″ roll (6.1 m × 5.1 cm × 0.6 cm), 1 roll per carton |
| Shipping weight | 1.1 lb (0.5 kg) |
| Availability | In stock |
| Cortec product number | 15000014 |
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.
