Category: NEWS ALERTS

We are pleased to welcome our new Coatings Chemist, Jake Hemberger, to the team! After a careful search to fill a niche position, Cortec^® has selected Jake as the right man for the job of bringing Cortec^® Coatings to the next generation. Jake’s friendly demeanor combined with chemistry knowledge and formulation experience serves as a strong foundation on which to improve and expand Cortec’s line of corrosion inhibiting paints for metal while providing critical technical support to customers.

Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Coatings

Prior to joining our team on June 12th, Jake Hemberger (B.Sc., Chemical Engineering) spent more than a decade in laboratory and manufacturing work, with six of those years as a formulation chemist at Valspar/ Sherwin Williams. Coming from a background in solvent borne and powder coating systems, Jake is intrigued by the challenge of turning his focus to a deeper technical understanding of water-based and ecofriendly coatings at Cortec^®.

Streamlining the R&D Process

Jake’s day-to-day work will include plenty of benchtop experimentation as well as close interaction with the production team to ensure smooth scale-ups and high quality results. Jake will also be developing relationships with raw material suppliers and end users and participating in customer attended line trials. His clear “bird’s eye” view of the coatings workflow from benchtop to customer will play a critical role in smoothing the path from coatings conception to application.

Vision for the Next Generation of Cortec® Coatings

Jake is eager to move deeper into “green” coatings technology and expressed admiration for how far Cortec^® has already come. “Since starting here at Cortec^®, I’ve been especially excited by the advancement and high level of performance that our . . . water-based coating technology offers,” he commented. We are similarly excited to have Jake on the team and look forward to seeing him create a new generation of Cortec^® Coatings that can be carried to the next generation of Cortec^® customers!

Keywords: Cortec coatings, corrosion inhibitors, paint for metal, Cortec technical support, water-based coatings, Cortec R&D, green coatings technology, water-based coating performance, coating raw material suppliers

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Just because one Cortec® product is a great rust preventative (RP) does not mean that it is the best choice for every application. In fact, Cortec® offers a variety of rust preventatives with specific characteristics that make some Cortec® RPs ideal for one application and other Cortec® RPs ideal for another. Viewing these flagship RPs through the accompanying selection grids can help users decide which one they prefer for a specific situation.

Storage or Shipping Environment

The most important factor in making your decision is determining the level of protection needed. Metal parts that sit outdoors need more robust protection than those that experience only slight humidity changes indoors. Metals stored in sheltered outdoor conditions need more protection than those indoors but can take advantage of robust RPs that could otherwise be washed off in the rain.

Product Carrier

The product carrier is another important characteristic that factors into the choice of an RP. Some users want a more sustainable, worker-friendly product that is water-based or biobased, while other companies have specs that have been around for decades and still call for solvent-based RPs.

Film Type

The film type can affect handling and appearance of the protected parts. Thin, dry RPs are very inconspicuous and great for tight tolerances. Oily RPs can be good for rotating components. Thick RPs may be better where heavy-duty protection is needed.

Removal

Those responsible for choosing an RP should also consider what kind of cleaning scenario end users want to see. If power washing is okay, a thicker RP can be used. Other RPs only require light washing or no removal at all.

Next time you choose an RP, be sure to look at your options through the grids at left for the most satisfactory experience. Need more help or other options? Contact Cortec® today to discuss your specific rust preventative
needs!

Keywords: how to choose best rust preventative, Cortec, rust preventative selection guide, indoor corrosion protection, outdoor storage protection, biobased rust preventatives, heavy-duty rust preventatives, corrosion protection for tight spaces, rust preventative removal, sustainable rust preventatives

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A primer is a great addition to any coatings system wherever time and budgets allow. When it comes to painting metal, Cortec^® VpCI^® primers are a great choice for coating adhesion and corrosion protection.

VpCI^® Primers and Adhesion

One of the main purposes of a primer is to get good adhesion so the final topcoat sticks firmly to the surface below. While most Cortec^® Coatings can be applied direct-to-metal, applying one or two coats of primer first makes the system even stronger. VpCI^®-375 is a fast-drying thixotropic coating that can be used as a base layer on carbon steel and copper. Other metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, and galvanized steel are more difficult for coatings to adhere to and should be primed with VpCI^®-373 wash primer to help subsequent primer/topcoat layers stick to the metal.

VpCI^® Primers and Corrosion Protection

Another important reason for using VpCI^® primers is corrosion protection. While other metal primers could theoretically be used with a VpCI^® topcoat, it would not allow the VpCI^® corrosion inhibitors to have direct access to the metal surface. Using a VpCI^® primer gets Cortec^® corrosion inhibitors as close to the metal surface as possible and is therefore an ideal foundation to a Cortec^® Coatings system.

Get VpCI^® Directly to the Surface

Cortec^® Coatings offer the flexibility of choosing the convenience of a one-coat water-based system or the enhanced protection of a multi-coat VpCI^® primer/topcoat system. Whenever time and budget allow, go for the best protection by getting VpCI^® primer directly to the surface. Contact Cortec^® for specific project recommendations.

Keywords: paint for metal, metal primers, corrosion inhibitors, corrosion protection, how to get good coating adhesion, Cortec Coatings, VpCI, painting best practices, how to choose a coating, why use primer

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Rust is a common problem on metals. Also common is the use of petroleum-based rust preventatives to protect metals in-process and in storage. Less common is the use of biobased, biodegradable rust preventatives. However, Cortec® is seeking to change that trend by giving metalworkers access to viable biobased technologies such as EcoLine® 3220.

Replace Petroleum-Based Products for Rust Prevention

Rather than rely primarily on mineral oils and flammable solvents, EcoLine® 3220 contains 99% USDA certified biobased content. It is also biodegradable, giving it an outstanding environmental profile. EcoLine® 3220 can be applied to metals by dip, spray, or brush. It leaves behind a tenacious oily corrosion inhibiting film that serves as an excellent temporary coating. Metals protected include carbon steel, aluminum and alloys, copper and alloys, cast iron, galvanized steel, and stainless steel.

Where to Use EcoLine® 3220

EcoLine® 3220 is an excellent alternative to petroleum-based rust preventatives for companies who stamp, roll, deburr, or otherwise work with metal. It can be used as a temporary protective coating on wire, sheet metals, pipes, flanges, gears, and many other fabricated or machined parts. Indoor protection of metal components sitting in bins between metalworking processes or on shelves during temporary storage is an ideal use for EcoLine® 3220. The coating is very easy to rinse off at any point when protection is no longer needed, but, if desired, it can be left in place when parts are packaged and shipped out to the customer.

Explore Your Biobased Alternatives

Freshly machined metal surfaces are magnets for corrosion, but petroleum-based oils and solvents are no longer the only option. EcoLine® 3220 provides excellent protection with high biobased, biodegradable content. Contact Cortec® to explore this and other biobased alternatives to petroleum-based rust preventatives for your application! Keywords: biobased rust preventative, rust preventatives for metalworkers, ways to prevent metal from rusting, replace petroleum products, alternatives to petroleum, Cortec, biobased alternatives, do biobased products work, biodegradable rust preventatives, corrosion inhibitors For a PDF version please click here.

Good coating adhesion is vital to the success of a Cortec® Coating system—or any paint job, for that matter. Without it, the paint will peel off, and the surface will be unprotected. To prevent such premature failures, painters can now watch Cortec’s coating adhesion test demo video and follow the directions to make sure their paint job is headed for success!

When to Do Adhesion Testing
An adhesion test comes in handy when a painter is waiting to apply the second or third coat of paint but doesn’t know if the previous coat has cured. This is especially a problem in cool, damp weather, when water evaporation rates, and hence dry times, slow down. To be safe, it is often best for painters in these conditions to wait overnight before applying the next coat to make sure the first coat has had plenty of time to dry and cure. If time is limited, painters can do an adhesion test to see if the coating has already cured and is ready to topcoat. Adhesion testing is also important when coating over a previously painted surface; it can confirm that the old coating is still adhering and will provide a strong base for the new coating.

Two Ways to Test Adhesion
In Cortec’s demo video, Technical Services Manager and Cortec® Coatings expert, Rick Shannon, shows two ways to test adhesion. The first is to use an ASTM D3359 test kit complete with a cutter, a brush, and directions. The cutter cuts multiple lines through the paint at one time. Two perpendicular swipes with the cutter leave a nice crosshatched section with tiny squares that can be tested by applying tape firmly and pulling it off. Adhesion is calculated based on how many squares of paint come off. The rating system ranges from 0B adhesion (all the paint squares were pulled off) to 5B adhesion (no paint squares were pulled off). In the demo video, no squares of paint came off Rick’s test panel coated with VpCI®-395, giving it an excellent 5B adhesion rating.

Rick also demonstrated how to do the same basic test out in the field when a kit is not available. Instead of using a special cutter, the painter can simply make two perpendicular sets of 11 cuts with a utility knife and see how many paint squares come off with a piece of tape. If the adhesion is good and few to no squares of paint come off, the coating should be cured enough to repaint!

It’s Your Turn!
In the past, Rick often had to explain the coatings adhesion test individually to end users asking when it was okay to apply a second or third coat of paint. Now, Cortec® Coatings users can go directly to this demo video to see how it is done themselves or share guidance with their clients. Watch now to see how it is done! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXVqiZeo4mI

Keywords: test coating adhesion, quick way to test coating adhesion, ASTM D3359, adhesion testing, prevent coating failures, paint dry times, coating over a painted surface, Cortec, VpCI, Cortec demo video

For a PDF version please click here.

High VOC, low VOC, zero VOC—these days, it can be hard to keep track of VOC regulations for coatings—especially since they often vary from region to region. The bottom line is that, typically, the more VOCs that users can avoid, the better. Cortec® offers these suggestions for navigating the world of paint VOCs, particularly when it comes to Cortec® Coatings for metal.

Why Do VOCs Matter?

VOCs are volatile organic compounds that vaporize into the air as a coating dries, causing a potential health hazard for those that breathe in the paint fumes. Because VOCs contribute to the amount of ozone in the air (a health hazard to humans), the U.S. EPA has been in the business of regulating these substances for more than two decades. Coatings industries are required to calculate VOC levels and report these results. Generally, industrial coatings with VOCs less than 3.5 lbs/gal (420 g/L) (all Cortec® Coatings) fall within VOC compliance at the national U.S. level, although coating users ultimately must verify and comply with local guidelines.

Low VOC and Zero VOC

The terms “low VOC” and “zero VOC” have also become popular, mostly in reference to consumer paints. While meeting these levels is not necessarily mandatory for industrial users, it does provide a helpful rule of thumb for those who are looking for ways to be “greener” or comply with environmental health and safety requirements at their own company. The generally accepted level for “low VOC” is <0.41 lbs/gal (<50 g/L) and for “zero VOC” is <0.04 lbs/gal (<5 g/L).

Choosing a Cortec® Coating

Many Cortec® Coatings fall into the lower range of VOCs (especially those that are water-based). Several are low VOC or zero VOC. Others that do not quite meet the low VOC definition still fall well within the range of compliancy in many regions. While a general rule of thumb is to opt for lower VOCs where possible, sometimes other factors such as application needs and customer specifications play into the decision and call for a coating that may not qualify as the lowest VOC on the list. The following chart includes VOCs of some of our most popular or significant coatings to help guide your selection.

If you are looking for a low or no VOC anticorrosion coating, be sure to contact us to discuss options. Some of these options are removable. Some are permanent. Some protect with a very thin unnoticeable clear coating. Altogether, they provide a great range of options to meet your environmental, health, and safety needs. Contact us to learn more: https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: coating VOCs, VOC levels, VOC standards, Cortec Coatings, low VOC coatings, zero VOC coatings, VOC compliant, anticorrosion coating, coatings for metal

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Cortec® is pleased to release a new demo video on how to apply CorrVerter® MCI® to rusty rebar! The demo shows how to transform a piece of rusty rebar into a primed and passivated one, as required for good concrete repair surface prep. It is a great resource to share with engineers, contractors, and anyone involved in concrete construction or restoration.

The two-and-a-half-minute demo video covers basic steps of CorrVerter® MCI® Rust Primer application:
1. Remove loose rust with a wire brush and rinse.
2. Apply CorrVerter® at ≈9-14 mils (225-350 µm) wet film thickness (WFT).
3. Recoat 20-30 minutes later if needed.
4. Allow to cure 24 hours before placing concrete.
5. Inspect to ensure full coverage and total cure.

A highlight of the video is the time lapse that shows CorrVerter® MCI® turning from white to black as the primer dries over the course of 4-6 hours. In the process, CorrVerter® MCI® is able to passivate existing surface rust and protect against re-rusting, providing a labor-saving alternative to sandblasting for rusty rebar. The most obvious application is rusty rebar surface prep as a convenient alternative to sandblasting prior to concrete repair. However, CorrVerter® MCI® can also be used to passivate new rebar that may have rusted during outdoor storage on the jobsite.

The CorrVerter® MCI® rebar demo is a fun introduction to the workings of CorrVerter® and is a great way to familiarize workers with the application process before using CorrVerter® MCI® out in the field. Watch the demo now to see how it works! https://youtu.be/4GtnllwpdzQ

Keywords: CorrVerter, MCI, rust primer, rusty rebar, how to apply CorrVerter, concrete repair, rusty rebar surface prep, Cortec, alternative to sandblasting, CorrVerter demo

For a PDF version please click here.