4VAP: Visual Asset Preservation

The Daywalk 4VAP (four-step asset preservation) system gives you a step by step method and layered protection process.

STEP 1: Unituff Peelable coatings: apply Unituff 452 to carbon or mild steel to eliminate oxygen, and thus prevent corrosion starting in the first place. The three wins that end-users have proven by utilising Unituff peelable coatings (formerly Omni-tuff Seal’n’Peel) are as follows:

– Fast-drying properties – 2-3 minutes touch dry so an extremely quick process to apply
– Effective prevention of rust-creep
– Non-residue coating, so highly efficient and effective removal process

Unituff OGS (formerly Omni-tuff Seal’n’Peel OGS) is a specialised formulation that is used for stainless steel and other specific alloys.

STEP 2: Daywalk desiccants and VCI emitters are the two subsets of step 2.

– 2.1. Daywalk desiccants: there are a number of moisture absorbent/adsorbent materials; the e-Gel is a popular option as it also has an in-built indicator: the gel is orange when it is unspent or thirsty; the gel turns dark green when it is spent (filled to capacity) – approximately 30% of its weight. Typically, in the 4VAP process, e-Gel is used in sachets, e.g. 100g, 200g, 500g and 1kg. Daywalk e-Gel is environmentally friendlier than conventional blue to pink silica gel; blue to pink gel typically contains cobalt chloride; while e-Gel is still Silica Gel – SO2, the indicator is Methyl Violet. As a rough indicator, 1kg of e-Gel will protect 1m3 of void within a covered nucleus for up to 12 months (depending on conditions e.g. high humidity areas this will be closer to six months.

– 2.2. VCI emitters: again, there are a few styles available to chose from. The Daywalk VCI emitter has been made particularly user-friendly as each emitter is fitted with double sided tape on its base so as to make application simple. Most commonly, VCI emitters are used inside enclosures such as electrical enclosures, where there is often contacts and many coppers wires that are subject to corrosion. VCI emitters will reduce the effects of moisture inside an enclosure for up to 24 months. The sizes are as follows:
o Size 1 – 1 cuft (cubic foot of enclosure)
o Size 2 – 5 cuft
o Size 3 – 10 cuft

STEP 3: VCI paper: VCI stands for volatile corrosion inhibitor. VCI paper has two main functions, namely:

– Because of the VCI paper’s Kraft properties, the paper will absorb moisture, then as the temperature within the covered nucleus heats up, the VCI paper will allow the moisture to dissipate. Where this often comes about is when you might have a piece of equipment covered by a plastic pallet bag or engine bag. Because of the temperature range – cold at night and hot during the day – there will commonly be beads of condensation form on the underside of the plastic cover. While there is no real issue if there are beads of moisture on the plastic, the potential is there that a drop could get too heavy and fall from the plastic onto a bare metal shaft, thus setting off a rusting process, as the VCI microscopically thin protective film is now broken.
– VCI paper is impregnated with VCI masterbatch: this enable the paper to emit corrosion inhibitor and thus protect the metal surfaces and mitigate the usual effects of moisture that might be present. In fact, volatile corrosion inhibitors rely on a presence of moisture to work.

STEP 4: The outer cover: this is often done with an LDPE (plastic) bag. The most common bag sizes would be the pallet and skid cover bags, as follows:
– 1220+1220×2100 (full pallet size1220+610×1600 (half pallet size) –
– 610+600X1100 (quarter pallet size)
– 820+810×1600 (two-thirds pallet)
– 2400+1600×2700 (tall engine bag)
– 2400+1600×2200 (regular engine bag)
In the above products, there are a mixture of options, such as:
– Plastic Gauge/thicknesses ranging from 50um up to 250um
– Regular plastic with no masterbatch added – for short use applications, such as contamination control during or between shifts
– UV stabiliser masterbatch added, giving integrity to the plastic
– UV stabiliser and VCI masterbatches added, ensuring greater plastic integrity and rust inhibiting properties

There is also a range of smaller bags – what we call “component bags” – complete with UV stabiliser and VCI masterbatch. These bags range from 200mm wide up to 600mm wide. In the component bag range we also stock a style that are simply UV stablised (and not VCI) and the two most commons width of bags in this style is 300mm and 750mm.

Have any issues with preservation? 4VAP is for you.

sales@daywalk.com
1300 662 987
09.08.17

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