Description
VpCI®-386 is a fast-drying water-based acrylic topcoat applied direct to metal, with superior UV resistance. It can also be welded through — useful when fabrication is not finished before protection is needed. This is the clear grade in a 55-gallon drum, the package for a dip tank or a production-line spray system, covering roughly 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft at the recommended film.
VpCI-386 is the coating Cortec puts on production lines and structural steel when the customer wants a permanent finish without a solvent-borne primer: one water-based acrylic, direct to metal, with a complex blend of organic inhibitors that Cortec says can compete with most paints and zinc-rich primers. Fabricators like it because it can be applied before welding is complete; the weld goes through the coating and the prep step disappears. It is used by military customers and comes in clear, white, black and an aluminum-pigmented grade for extra UV and abrasion resistance. In the Cortec Product Consultation Guide VpCI-386 is rated 4 (outside, uncovered storage) on carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, brass and solder; on aluminum, galvanized or plated substrates apply VpCI-373 wash primer first. At 0.7 lb/gal VOC it sits well under the 1 lb/gal Cortec quotes for its water-based coatings against more than 3 lb/gal for solvent-borne systems.
Typical applications
- Structural steel
- Production line finishing
- Weldable surfaces prior to welding
- Harsh outdoor unsheltered environments
- Direct-to-metal topcoat on fabricated equipment, frames and enclosures
- Substation, wind farm and utility equipment maintenance
- Forklift, trailer and mobile equipment refinishing
- Dip or spray coating of parts on an OEM paint line
- Topcoat over CorrVerter on previously rusted steel
How to apply VpCI-386
- 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. On aluminum, galvanized or plated substrates apply VpCI-373 at 0.5 to 1.0 mil first and test adhesion before full-scale work.
- Mixing and dilution. Power-agitate to a uniform consistency with a squirrel-cage or drill mixer. VpCI-386 may be thinned with water up to 10 % by volume to adjust viscosity.
- Conditions. Apply between 45 and 90 °F (7 to 32 °C) with the surface at least 5 °F (2 °C) above the dew point. Water-based coatings want a clean surface and dry air; avoid falling temperatures and high humidity.
- 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. Cortec also runs VpCI-386 as a dip coat on production lines.
- Film build. Apply 1.5 to 3.0 mils (38 to 76 µm) dry, 4.4 to 8.8 mils wet. Theoretical coverage is 545.4 sq ft per gallon at 1.0 mil DFT, so plan on roughly 180 to 360 sq ft per gallon at the recommended film.
- Drying. Dry to touch in about 30 minutes and dry to handle in about 1 hour; recoat after 1 hour. Force-dry 15 to 20 minutes at 150 °F (65 °C) if needed. Full cure takes 3 to 7 days.
- Welding. Weld through the dry film as required; no stripping of the weld zone is needed.
- Cleanup. Clean tools with water while wet; once dry use butyl cellosolve or MEK, following the solvent manufacturer’s safety directions.
- Storage. Keep the container sealed, do not let it freeze and do not store above 100 °F (38 °C).
- See the Cortec coatings application guides and comparison table for the shared spray, prep and storage instructions across the Cortec coating range.
Where it fits in the Cortec line
VpCI-386 is sold in clear, white, black and aluminum. EcoShield 386 is a separate Cortec product number with its own data sheet and lower published figures. Compared with its siblings, VpCI-375 is the one-coat acrylic with the highest published salt spray, VpCI-395 the two-component water-based epoxy primer for immersion service, VpCI-396 the moisture-cure urethane for marginally prepared steel and VpCI-371 the coating for hot surfaces. For a removable film that is also weldable, use VpCI-391 instead. For rusted steel that cannot be blasted, derust with VpCI-422 or convert the rust with CorrVerter and topcoat with VpCI-386; where blasting is possible, an abrasive blast room gets you to SSPC-SP6 fastest. Browse the full Cortec VpCI line.
Field notes
A Texas tube mill needed a clear zero-VOC OD coating at 1 mil that force-dries fast enough for electronic stenciling. In four trials from October 2020 to June 2022, EcoShield VpCI-386 FD was applied at 1.0 to 1.2 mils after hydrotest and force-dried 22 minutes at 140 °F; several hundred pipes sat a year in a Gulf Coast yard with 5B adhesion and no OD rust, at 0.04 lb per gallon (5 g per L) VOC. (Cortec Case History #783)
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)
An Illinois refrigeration-coil maker’s solvent-based paint smelled, posed health hazards and under-performed on corrosion. The coils are now lowered into a large circulating dip tank of VpCI-386, covered when idle, for better corrosion performance, lower VOC and a safer shop. (Cortec Case History #616)
Watch: Cortec coatings technology
Video by Cortec Corporation.
Specifications
| Salt spray (ASTM B117) | 504 hours |
|---|---|
| Humidity (ASTM 1735) | Over 1,008 hours |
| VOC | 0.7 lbs/gal (84 g/L) |
| Volume solids | 34% |
| Recommended DFT | 1.5–3.0 mils |
| Coverage | 545.4 ft²/gal @ 1 mil DFT |
| Gloss | 85+ GU/60° |
| Surface prep | VpCI-440 phosphatizing pre-treatment on production lines; NACE #3/SSPC-SP6 commercial blast on structural steel |
| Shelf life | 2 years |
| Type | Water-based acrylic topcoat, direct to metal, weldable; permanent coating |
| Color | Clear |
| Pencil hardness (ASTM D3363) | HB at 2 mil DFT after a 7-day cure |
| Recommended WFT | 4.4–8.8 mils (111.8–223.5 µm) |
| Viscosity | 35–45 s Zahn #5 |
| Weight per gallon | 8.6 lb (1.03 kg/L) |
| Flash point | Does not flash |
| Dilution | Water, up to 10% by volume |
| Dry to touch / dry to handle | 30 min / 1 hr |
| Recoat | 1 hr |
| Force dry | 15–20 min at 150 °F (65 °C) |
| Full cure | 3–7 days |
| Wash primer | VpCI-373 at 0.5–1.0 mil on aluminum, galvanized or plated substrates |
| 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 |
| Storage | Original packaging, indoors, out of direct sunlight, 40–100 °F (4–38 °C); keep from freezing |
| Size | 55 Gallon Drum |
| Shipping weight | 514 lb (233 kg) |
| Availability | In stock |
| Cortec product number | 12400048 |
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.
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