What is VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor) Technology?

Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs) are essential for industrial B2B companies to prevent corrosion in storage, transit, and operational environments. VCIs release protective vapors that form an invisible molecular barrier on metals, safeguarding equipment, pipelines, structural steel, and spare parts.

VCI technology addresses all forms of corrosion including uniform, pitting, crevice, intergranular, stress, and galvanic, ensuring asset integrity and reliability across industries including oil & gas, mining, petrochemicals, renewable energy, public utilities and several other industries.

VpCI®, Cortec’s proprietary VCI technology, delivers premium corrosion protection trusted worldwide. Customers know that when they use VpCI® products, they are using premium VCI products of the highest quality.

How Does VCI Technology Work?

VCIs release vapors that form a thin, invisible, mono-molecular protective layer. This barrier interrupts the electrochemical reactions that cause rust, even in challenging environments with moisture, salts, and oxygen exposure.

What is the step-by-step process of corrosion inhibition by VCI?

1. Vaporization: VCI chemicals, integrated into packaging materials, vaporize at room temperature.

2. Transport: These vapors travel through the air inside a sealed container (like a box or bag).

3. Condensation & Shielding: The vapors condense onto exposed metal surfaces, forming a thin, invisible, monomolecular layer.

4. Inhibition: This layer blocks corrosive elements (oxygen, moisture, contaminants) from reaching the metal, stopping corrosion.

VCI Product Types

VCI technology is formulated into different products, including:

• Films, papers, and packaging for inventory and spare parts protection

• Fogs, powders, and void space inhibitors for enclosed equipment

• Thin-film and hard coatings for mechanical and structural preservation

• Additives for fluids and pipelines

• Others

What types of materials are VCIs compatible with and what types of services can they be used with?

VCIs are compatible with metals, elastomers, and non-metallic components, making them ideal for:

Preservation of Equipment & Spare Parts

Pumps, valves, exchangers, structural steel, heaters, and bearings

Rig Stacking & Plant Lay-Up

Cold/warm stacking, dry/wet lay-up, asset integrity protection

Corrosion Advisory & Inspections

Pipeline corrosion, structural steel, and MIC management

Safety and the Additional Benefits of Utilizing VCI Technology

VCIs under the VpCI® brand name are generally safer to handle and less hazardous than other VCIs such as DICHAN (one of the first, highly toxic VCIs on the market) or those that rely heavily on nitrites. Many Cortec® products containing Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors are also recyclable or water-based and typically have a lower environmental impact than many harsher chemicals.

The additional benefits of utilizing VCI technology include:

• Versatile protection across metals and components

• Minimal disruption to day-to-day operations or start-up

• Long-term storage solutions for greenfield and brownfield assets

• Eco-friendly and biodegradable options for sustainability

• Supports ESG goals by extending asset lifespan and reducing material consumption

VCI and ESG: Sustainable Corrosion Protection

VCIs support sustainable asset management by extending equipment lifespan, reducing replacement needs, and minimizing environmental impact. Eco-friendly VCI products contribute to regulatory compliance and corporate ESG objectives while maintaining operational reliability. Read more about this on our sustainability page.

Learn More About VCI and Corrosion Protection

At Presserv (Norway, UK, Brazil), Cortec Global Services (CGS) in the USA and Australia, and Presserv SES in Brunei, we sell as well as integrate VCI technology from Cortec Corporation across our full range of services.

Contact us at office@presserv.com to discover how our VCI-based solutions and preservation services can protect your assets, enhance reliability, and support your company’s sustainability objectives.