Category: NEWS ALERTS

July 19, 2024

Iron fences, railings, windows, doors, and other decorative work can be beautiful additions to the home and yard, but owners of old houses are well-aware that these can be rusty. However, rather than sandblasting or buying new pieces, home remodelers also have the option of restoring them with CorrVerter^® Rust Converter Primer.

CorrVerter^® is a water-based coating that converts rusted surfaces to a hydrophobic passive layer and prevents further rusting through a formulation of chelating agents and a high solids waterborne latex with low water vapor permeability. It has a very low VOC of 0.1 lbs/gal (12 g/L) and, once cured, can be top-coated with most water-based and solvent-based paints. It is a great addition to the home remodeler’s toolkit for projects around the home and yard:

• Iron fences and gates
• Wrought iron railings
• Doors with ornamental ironwork
• Metal radiator covers
• Garden decorations

One home remodeler was able to repurpose two rusty iron grates from a secondhand store by applying CorrVerter^® before finishing them with a white topcoat. He used the two grates to make a decorative radiator cover rather than buying a new one, which can be very expensive to purchase. This gave the do-it yourselfer the satisfaction of saving money while creating a functional work of art. CorrVerter^® can be a great tool for home remodeling, decorating, or simply maintenance. Contact Cortec^® to learn more about how to use this rust passivating primer in your next remodeling project!

Keywords: rust converting paint, home remodeling tips, how to repair a rusty fence, painting rusty railings, rust passivating primer, saving money on home remodeling, Cortec, CorrVerter

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Heavy equipment is an integral part of everyday industry. It is also an expensive investment, making it critical for equipment owners to extend asset service life as long as possible. Where corrosion threatens to shorten that lifespan, Cortec^® recommends several protective coatings to enhance preventative maintenance.

Why Does Heavy Equipment Age Early?

Heavy equipment is often used in harsh environments. Fertilizer loading at barge docks, coal moving at power plants, and material handling at sauerkraut factories are just some of the activities that can quickly age fork trucks and front-end loaders, causing paint to peel and surfaces to rust. Even manufacturers face the challenge of keeping equipment in like-new condition when it is shipped overseas and sitting outdoors in a distributor’s show yard for several months before resale.

Coating as Part of Routine Maintenance

Two Cortec^® Coatings stand out as excellent options for delaying corrosion on heavy equipment. Both can be applied un-tinted over bare and painted metal surfaces or matched to a desired color scheme. Both are water-based and allow for easy cleanup. EcoShield^® VpCI^®-386 is a permanent coating that inhibits corrosion at a very thin DFT (dry film thickness) and has a VOC of 0.6 lbs/gal (72 g/L). VpCI®-391 is a removable coating that dries to a hazy non-tacky film and has a low VOC of 0.4 lbs/gal (48 g/L). The latter is a great option for shipping new equipment as well as for performing annual preventative maintenance, as it can inconspicuously be left on for extended periods or sprayed off with an alkaline cleaner. Two other helpful maintenance coatings are CorrVerter^®, a water-based rust-converter primer that can be used for restoration on previously rusted surfaces, and VpCI^®-369, an oil-based wet-film corrosion inhibitor good for moving parts.

Add a Layer of Protection to Assets

Some environments cause heavy equipment to age more quickly than others. Applying a Cortec^® permanent or removable coating is a great addition to the normal maintenance routine, providing inconspicuous protection to painted and bare metal surfaces. Contact Cortec^® for more tips on heavy equipment corrosion preventative maintenance.

Keywords: anticorrosion coatings, coatings for heavy equipment, heavy equipment, slow down aging on heavy equipment, heavy equipment maintenance, maintenance tips for front end loaders, extend service life, Cortec, preventative maintenance, rust prevention

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December 29, 2023

Do you ever wish you could apply corrosion protection to a metal surface for just a few days, weeks, or months and peel it off when the protection was no longer needed? Cortec^® helps you do that with VpCI^®-372 peelable coating.

VpCI^®-372 is a water-based corrosion inhibiting coating that can be applied directly to metal for protection in sheltered conditions. It also serves as a light barrier against physical abrasion. At the end of the protection period, VpCI^®-372 can be peeled off by hand and discarded as solid waste, revealing the protected surface below. It offers excellent UV resistance and can be matched to some custom colors. VpCI^®-372 has a low VOC of 0.2 lbs/gal (24 g/L) and can be applied by spray, dip, brush, or roll.

The special characteristics of VpCI^®-372 allow it to have a variety of creative uses. Some ideas are as follows:

• Temporary protection of metal parts during shipment
• Storage of aluminum boats and other large equipment
• Masking of parts during large painting jobs
• Protection of non-porous surfaces (e.g., windows and doors) from scratches and nicks on the construction site

An extra thick version, VpCI®-372E, is available for use on dynamic profiles such as splines, threads, or machined areas.

If you have a metal surface that needs temporary protection against corrosion and abrasion, and you want to be able to remove that protection at any time, consider using VpCI^®-372 for the job. Contact Cortec^® for more information and to discuss your specific temporary rust prevention needs.

Keywords: peelable coating, coatings for metal, anti-rust coating, anti-scratch coating, Cortec, Cortec Coatings, shipping metal parts, equipment storage, masking film for construction site, peel-off paint for metal

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This year, the EPA proposed banning most uses of methylene chloride, mentioning the availability of alternative products that do not include this extremely dangerous chemical. In light of tightening regulations and the obvious hazards of methylene chloride (a chemical often used in industrial paint strippers) Cortec^® invites those seeking alternative products to consider trying EcoLine^® 4320 or 4330 for their next paint removal task.

Eliminating Methylene Chloride and NMP

Cortec^® introduced EcoLine^® 4320 and 4330 five years ago, as more retailers were pulling paint strippers containing methylene chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) off the shelf. EcoLine^® 4320 and 4330 do not contain either of these substances. However, in a salute to “green” chemistry, they incorporate renewable raw material, which has allowed them to earn the USDA Certified Biobased Product label as products that contain 50% USDA certified biobased content.*

Removing Paint from Metal and Concrete

EcoLine^® 4320 and 4330 can be used on metal, cementitious, and masonry surfaces such as tanks, pipes, equipment, floors, and stairways. EcoLine^® 4320 is a liquid version that can be applied via dip tank; EcoLine^® 4330 is a gel that can be brushed or rolled onto coated surfaces. In most cases, EcoLine^® 4320/4330 will soften the coating enough to remove it in 15-30 minutes, although this can vary depending on the number of layers and age of the coating. Corrosion inhibitors provide the added benefit of protection against flash rust on metals during the stripping process.

Get the Job Done with Biobased Alternatives

Regulations are tightening, but reality is also setting in about the serious health risks of methylene chloride. EcoLine^® 4320 and 4330 are examples of chemistry advancements that eliminate these chemicals while helping industries get the job done and introducing raw materials from renewable resources. Contact Cortec® to learn more about these USDA Certified Biobased Product alternatives for paint removal.

Keywords: methylene chloride ban, EPA, NMP, paint strippers, industrial paint removers, USDA Certified Biobased Product, green chemistry, Cortec, alternatives to methylene chloride

*PPE and careful handling still required

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Winter brings snow and ice, prompting DOTs (departments of transportation) to get deicers out on the road to keep travel safe. As a result, plenty of deicing salts splash up on cars, trucks, and buses, leading to corrosion if not washed off quickly and thoroughly enough. Unfortunately, it is much harder, but not less important, to clean the vehicle underbody. Applying Cortec^® underbody coatings before winter sets in is therefore a great corrosion prevention strategy for vehicle and fleet owners.

Anticorrosion Underbody Coatings

CorrBarrier^™ Primer is a fast-drying water-based one-coat system suited for corrosion protection in the underbody/under-hood market. Although called a primer, it can serve as a standalone coating for protection of vehicle frames and undercarriages. It has a low VOC of 0.2 lbs/gal (24 g/L) and has a recommended DFT (dry film thickness) of 2.0-3.0 mils (50-75 µm). It is an ideal choice for those concerned about worker exposure to solvents and high VOCs. VpCI^®-398 is a similar, yet heavier duty, solvent-based underbody coating. It can be applied more thickly at 4.0-5.0 mils (100-125 µm) DFT for stronger protection. Both coatings remain flexible with good chip resistance in case of gravel, salt, and other road particles hitting the coating.

Winterize Your Fleet Now

It can be difficult to plan ahead, but with winter fleet maintenance, the payoff can be huge. Coating undercarriages of cars, trucks, buses, and snowplows now will help them weather the winter better, resist corrosion, and ultimately last longer. Multiply the value of one truck’s extended service life by the scores or hundreds of vehicles in the fleet, and the ROI is significant. Contact Cortec^® to learn more about coating your vehicle underbody to be ready for winter!

Keywords: fleet maintenance, vehicle rust prevention, stop rust on vehicle, deicing salt corrosion, snowplow maintenance, Cortec, winter driving season, undercarriage coatings, winterize your truck, corrosion prevention

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