VCI and rust prevention: questions buyers ask

VCI (vapour or volatile corrosion inhibitor) packaging releases vapours inside a closed pack that settle on metal surfaces as a thin protective film, keeping moisture, oxygen and pollutants off the metal during storage and transit.

Suprabha’s Organic Vapour Corrosion Inhibitors: a family of organic chemicals developed by Suprabha whose vapours migrate, condense and form a monomolecular film on metal surfaces, including bores and cavities. SO VCI® is a registered trademark of Suprabha Protective Products Pvt. Ltd.

Rustopaper and Rustopowder protect for up to 24 months; seaworthy packing is effective from 6 months to a year; on-site preservation (SAP) is designed for as many as 25 years.

Common silica gel holds about 25% of its weight in moisture, releases it again as temperatures rise and turns acidic. Suprabha Dehumidifier is clay-based, absorbs up to 85% of its weight and does not give it back.

No. VCI is a dry method: parts arrive ready to use, with no oil or grease to remove.

Between 6 and 24 months in ambient atmospheric conditions, and longer if required. Suprabha matches the protection to the storage and transit period you need.

Rustopaper conforms to IS 6263 and other international specifications.

300 to 600 gauge, as 3-D bags, gusseted bags, tubing and sheeting. Suprabha makes multi-layer blown film up to 6000 mm wide.

Yes. Rustofilm is translucent, so the Transparent Seaworthy Packaging System lets packed material be inspected at customs and ports without opening the package.

From a few hours to a few days. Reapplying it extends the period of protection as long as you need.

No. Protected areas do not need cleaning or degreasing, and Rustopliq is soluble in coolant, so the coating does not need to be removed.

It works at two levels: the oil film protects the surface, and SO VCI® chemicals in the oil release vapours that protect areas where the film is broken during handling and recesses the oil cannot reach.

SO VCI® rust preventive oils conform to IS 1674.

About 5 g per cubic foot of pack volume protects almost any metal surface for a full year. With Suprabha Dehumidifier, 2.5 g/cft is enough.

Silica gel absorbs and stores moisture but can release it back when temperatures rise, and becomes acidic. Suprabha Dehumidifier is clay-based, near-neutral and does not release the moisture it absorbs.

Yes. FEC 902 converts the superficial rust layer into a rust preventive film that protects the surface underneath, and painting on it is possible.

Acid left on the metal causes more rust. After de-rusting in RRM 422 / 423 and rinsing, parts are dipped in SO VCI® 302 / 302V neutraliser.

IS 13217:1991 (Type 2 Grade B) for tensile, breaking and bursting strength, and the fumigation retention test complying with IS 13217, done at Shriram Institute for Industrial Research.

Methyl bromide and aluminium phosphide.

Yes. They conform to IS 7903:2011 and are made under licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Single widths up to 4000 mm without joints.

Loads over 2 tons; the bags carry 1000 times their own weight.

Yes. Customer logos are printed in-house on the fabricated bags.

A multilayered reinforced PE laminate: a heavy-duty scrim fabric laminated between two layers of virgin, high-strength polyethylene film by co-extrusion.

Yes. Supralene® Plus contains SO VCI® inhibitors for rust preventive packing.

95 to 250 GSM, as tubes or rolls 16" to 80" wide, or flat fabric up to 3.5 m.

Rolls and tubes from 6" to 120", and flat film up to 6 metres without a joint, 50 to 250 microns thick.