Cortec’s coatings have a broad scope of use for a variety of metal substrates in construction and facility maintenance applications: structural steel, steel plates, metallic platforms, architectural metallic elements, stairs and banisters, metallic components of HVAC and mechanical systems, and much more!
Traditional Coatings vs. Cortec® Micro-Corrosion Inhibiting Coatings™ Technology
Whereas traditional coatings rely on sacrificial metals (zinc, chromates, aluminum) with large particle sizes for inhibition (allowing gaps for corrosion and coatings failure to start), coatings containing VpCI® inhibitors protect the metal substrate with a tight bonding molecular structure to inhibit micro-corrosion and deter corrosion creep at the micro-cavity level.
Metal Coatings Application Steps
Step 1: Surface Preparation
Surface preparation is the key to good, long-lasting system performance. Refer to each product data sheet before for instructions. Surface cleaning products such as VpCI®-423 Gel can help remove existing rust.
Step 2 (Optional): Rinsing
Once the surface has been cleaned, rinsing with VpCI®-440 is recommended to prevent short-term rust and promote adhesion.
Step 3: Coating System Application
A coating system may consist of one or more products, depending on substrate condition, exposure, and the required protection.
Prime Coat: For partially rusted surfaces, CorrVerter® can be used as a primer. If there is no surface rust, other primers in the full list below can be used.
Topcoat: Choose one or more depending on exposure, durability, and aesthetics requirements. Some topcoats can be used as an intermediate coat and/or topcoat. A full list of topcoats is below.
| Full System Application Example | ||||
| Step 1: Surface Prep | Step 2 (opt): Rinsing | Step 3: Coating System Application | ||
| VpCI®-423 Gel or Sandblasting | Use VpCI®-440 | Prime Coat | Topcoat 1 | Topcoat 2 |
| CorrVerter® MCI® DFT = 3 mils (75 μm) |
VpCI®-395 epoxy DFT = 1.5-3 mils (37.5-75 μm) |
VpCI®-384 or VpCI®-386 DFT = 1.5-3 mils (37.5-75 μm) |
||
| Primers | ||||||
| VpCI®-375 | VpCI®-396 | CorrVerter® MCI® Rust Primer |
EcoShield® VpCI® 386 | MCI® EcoRainbow® Architectural Coating |
VpCI®-395 | |
| System Type | Water | Solvent | Water | Water | Water | Water |
| Parts | 1K | 1K | 1K | 1K | 1K | 2K |
| Resin | Acrylic | Urethane | PVC | Acrylic | Acrylic | Epoxy |
| Exterior Durability | Very Good | Very Good | Poor | Very Good | Very Good | Poor |
| Chemical Resistance | Fair | Good | Very Good | Fair | Fair | Excellent |
| Salt Spray (hrs) | 750+ | 750+ | 500 | 1000 | 168 | 1000+ |
| Gloss | 30-50 | 30-50 | 15-25 | 80+ | 80+ | 15-25 |
| VOC | 0.7 lbs/gal (84 g/L) |
3.1 lbs/gal (371 g/L) |
0.1 lbs/gal (12 g/L) |
0.06-0.07 lbs/gal (7.5-8.4 g/L) |
0.01-0.02 lbs/gal (1.6-2.0 g/L) |
0.2 lbs/gal (24 g/L) |
| Solids | 40-52% | 56.20% | 34.50% | 31% | 31% | 48.60% |
| Recommended DFT | 1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
2.0-3.0 mils (50-75 µm) |
3.0-5.0 mils (75-125 µm) |
1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
| Dry to Touch | 20 min | 2-3 hrs | 2-3 hrs | 30 min | 30 min | 20-30 min |
| Topcoats | |||||
| EcoShield® VpCI®-386 | MCI® EcoRainbow® Architectural Coating |
VpCI®-375 | VpCI®-384 | VpCI®-395 | |
| System Type | Water | Water | Water | Solvent | Water |
| Parts | 1K | 1K | 1K | 2K | 2K |
| Resin | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Urethane | Epoxy |
| Exterior Durability | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Excellent | Poor |
| Chemical Resistance | Fair | Fair | Fair | Very Good | Excellent |
| Direct to Metal (DTM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Salt Spray (hrs) | 1000 | 168 | 2500+ | 500+ | 1000+ |
| Gloss | 80+ | 80+ | 30-50 | 80+ | 15-25 |
| VOC | 0.06-0.07 lbs/gal (7.5-8.4 g/L) |
0.01-0.02 lbs/gal (1.6-2.0 g/L) |
0.7 lbs/gal (84 g/L) |
3.5 lbs/gal (419 g/L) |
0.2 lbs/gal (24 g/L) |
| Solids | 31% | 31% | 40-52% | 50-55% | 48.60% |
| Recommended DFT | 1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
4-5 mils (100-125 µm) |
1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
1.5-3.0 mils (37.5-75 µm) |
| Dry to Touch | 30 min | 30 min | 20 min | 30 min | 20-30 min |
| Selection Guide | ||||||||
| ID | Primer | Low VOC | Components | UV Stable (Exterior Application) |
Color Matching | Chemical Resistance |
Salt Spray Resistance |
Recommended Topcoats |
| P1 | VpCI®-375* (DFT: 1.5-3 mils/ 37.5-75 µm) | Yes | 1 | Yes | Yes | Fair | 750 hrs+ | T1, T3, T5 |
| P2 | EcoShield® VpCI® 386* | Yes | 1 | Yes | Yes | Fair | 1000 hrs | T3, T5 |
| P3 | VpCI®-395* | Yes | 2 | No | Limited | Excellent | 1000 hrs+ | T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 |
| P4 | VpCI®-396* | No | 1 | Yes | 2 Colors Available |
Good | 750 hrs+ | T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 |
| P5 | CorrVerter® MCI® Rust Primer | Yes | 1 | Yes | No | Very Good | 500 hrs | T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 |
| P6 | MCI® EcoRainbow® Architectural Coating* | Yes | 1 | Yes | Yes | Fair | 168 hrs | T3, T5 |
| ID | Topcoat** | Low VOC | Components | UV Stable (Exterior Application) |
Color Matching | Chemical Resistance |
Salt Spray Resistance |
Recommended Topcoats |
| T1 | VpCI®-375* (DFT: 4-5 mils/ 100-125 µm) | Yes | 1 | Yes | Yes | Fair | 2500 hrs+ | T3 |
| T2 | VpCI®-384 | No | 2 | Yes | Yes | Very Good | 500+ | |
| T3 | EcoShield® VpCI® 386* | Yes | 1 | Yes | Yes | Fair | 1000 hrs | |
| T4 | VpCI®-395* | Yes | 2 | No | Limited | Excellent | 1000 hr+ | T2, T3 |
| T5 | MCI® EcoRainbow® Architectural Coating* | Yes | 1 | Yes | Yes | Very Good | 168 hrs | |
* These products can used as primers or topcoats depending on application
** Some topcoats can be used as topcoats and/or intermediate coats
| Recommended System Combinations | |
| P3 + T3 | Recommended for clean structural steel |
| P1 + T1 | |
| P2 + T4 + T5 | |
| P5 + T4 + T1 | Recommended for rusted structural steel |
| P5 + T4 (Interior) | |
| P3 + T2 | Recommended for metals exposed to chemicals |
| P3 + T4 (Interior) | |
| Clean Substrate: P3 or P4 + T1, T2, T3 | Recommended for handrails, banisters, steel plates, and mechanical equipment |
| Rusted Substrate: P5 + (P3 or P4) + (T1, T3) | |
| P5 + T4 (Interior) | |
| Clean Substrate: (P1 or P4) + (T1 or T3) | Recommended for pipes (below 194 °F [90 °C]) |
| Rusted Substrate: P5 + (T1 or T3) | |
Download the PDF version here: Coatings Guide Construction