Why Corrosion During Shipment Is a Major Risk
Export shipments face multiple corrosion triggers:
- Ocean transport with salt air exposure
- Temperature swings between day and night
- High relative humidity inside containers
- Extended transit times of 30 to 90 days
When warm, moist air cools inside a sealed container, condensation can form on metal surfaces. Without protection, this moisture initiates corrosion during shipment.
VCI technology works proactively by protecting metal surfaces inside the package before corrosion begins.
Protect Against Corrosion During Shipment
Learn how ZERUST® solutions help reduce humidity and corrosion risks in container shipments, including overseas and long-term export transport.
Using VCI for Humid Environments and Long-Term Shipment
VCI for humid environments is effective when best practices are followed. For long-term shipment or export packaging, consider:
- Ensure parts are clean and surface dry before packaging.
- Use properly sized VCI film or bags and seal them tightly.
- Avoid trapping standing water or excessive moisture.
- For severe environments, combine VCI film with desiccants or moisture control products.
- Use multimetal VCI formulations for mixed assemblies.
For especially aggressive export routes, ZERUST® also offers complementary solutions such as:
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- Oil-based rust preventatives
- Water-based corrosion inhibitors
- VCI emitters and diffusers
- VCI films for industrial export
This layered approach strengthens protection against corrosion during shipment in high-humidity regions.
Prevent Corrosion During Shipment Overseas
Discover practical strategies to protect metal parts in shipping containers, including moisture control and VCI for humid environments during long-term export transit.
How Long Does VCI Protection Last in Export Conditions?
Protection duration depends on:
- Film thickness
- Packaging integrity
- Metal type
- Environmental severity
- Transit time
When correctly applied, ZERUST® VCI packaging can protect parts during extended overseas shipment and storage. For multi-month export transit, selecting the correct VCI product and ensuring proper sealing is critical.
Best Practices to Prevent Corrosion During Shipment
To reduce risk during international transport:
- Allow parts to cool before sealing
- Control humidity before packaging
- Avoid packaging freshly washed parts while wet
- Seal packages completely
- Use container-level moisture control when needed
Following these steps ensures VCI performs effectively in humid export environments.
Need Help Preventing Corrosion During Shipment?
Contact ZERUST® to discuss your export packaging, long-term shipment, or humid environment challenges. Our corrosion experts can recommend the right VCI solution for your application.
ICT®510-C VCI Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against rust and corrosion damage for metal assets in shipping and storage. Additionally, it’s available in ferrous, non-ferrous, and multimetal formulations, as well as various-sized rolls, sheets, tubing, and bags.
ICT®510-C Ferrous VCI Film provides cost-effective and targeted protection against rust damage for ferrous metals, such as steel, iron, and cast iron in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C Non-ferrous VCI Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against corrosion damage for non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, brass, and bronze, in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C VCI Multimetal Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against rust and corrosion damage for ferrous and non-ferrous metals in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C VCI Sheeting provides cost-effective and versatile protection against rust and corrosion damage for metal assets in shipping and storage. Additionally, it’s available in ferrous, non-ferrous, and multimetal formulations, as well as various-sized sheeting.
ICT® VCI Poly Bags provide convenient and proven protection against corrosion damage for metals in shipping and storage. In addition, they are available in ferrous, non-ferrous, anti-tarnish, and multimetal protection types and various zipper, flat, and gusseted sizes.
ICT® Flat VCI Poly Bags provide convenient and proven protection against corrosion damage for metals in shipping and storage. In addition, they are available in ferrous, non-ferrous, anti-tarnish, and multimetal protection types.
ICT® Gusset VCI Bags provide convenient and proven protection against corrosion damage for metals in shipping and storage. In addition, they are available in ferrous, non-ferrous, anti-tarnish, and multimetal protection types and gusseted sizes ranging from two inches up to 150 inches.
ICT® Zipper VCI Bags provide convenient and proven protection against corrosion damage for metals in shipping and storage. In addition, they are available in ferrous, non-ferrous, anti-tarnish, and multimetal protection types.
ICT®510-C VCI Tubing provides versatile protection against corrosion, as the tubing offers a tailored packaging solution for parts of various sizes or long metal assets metals in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®420 is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive VCI kraft paper that merges the practicality and cost-efficiency of paper-based packaging with advanced corrosion protection. Consequently, it streamlines the preservation of metals during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT®420-35P VCI Poly Kraft Paper is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive kraft paper coated with a one-mil thick ZERUST® ICT® polyethylene layer containing Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs). As a result, providing the kraft paper with increased tear and moisture resistance, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for the corrosion protection of ferrous metals during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT®427 is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive premium VCI paper formulated to provide robust corrosion protection for demanding situations—such as high humidity and challenging metal parts during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT®430-35SR VCI Scrim Paper is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive VCI kraft paper that’s scrim-reinforced (3/4 mil polyethylene layer and fiberglass scrim). As a result, providing effective corrosion protection with the convenience and affordability of a paper wrapping product with superior strength that avoids ripping and tearing during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ICT®432-35P is an acid-free, pH-neutral, and non-abrasive VCI kraft paper coated with a 3/4 mil plain polyethylene layer. As a result, providing the kraft paper with increased tear and moisture resistance, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for the corrosion protection of multiple metal types during work-in-progress, shipping, and storage.
ZERUST® VCI Kraft Paper Sheets are available in various product types, including ICT®420, ICT®420-35P, ICT®427, ICT®430-35SR, and ICT®432-35P, ensuring an ideal packaging solution. Whether in storage or transit, ZERUST® VCI Kraft Paper Sheets deliver unparalleled performance.
Vapor Capsules are portable VCI emitter diffusers containing proven ZERUST® Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI). They protect metals in hard-to-reach areas of control panels, electrical cabinets, or other enclosed spaces from corrosion, even when they are in operation. Additionally, use these VCI emitter diffusers as a supplement to other ZERUST® VCI packaging products for added protection.
ActivDri™ PWA Packets are patent-pending, economical, effective, and easy-to-use dual-action, moisture control Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) packets that protect against environmental contaminants and humidity that aggressively corrode metal parts, components, electronics, and electrical components/equipment
ActivPak® is a versatile and powerful fast-acting VCI sachet designed to address flash rust and corrosion concerns in demanding scenarios, including overseas shipping and polluted factory environments.
ActivPak®(LS) Flash Corrosion VCI Emitters offer fast-acting corrosion protection in challenging conditions, such as factories, marine environments, waste treatment facilities, and power plants.
Z-PAK® is an economical, effective, and easy-to-use vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI) diffuser packet that can be used alone or, more typically, with other ZERUST® packaging products to provide robust temporary corrosion protection for ferrous metals during shipment, storage, or work-in-progress.
