MCI® Coatings Guide for Construction Applications

CorrVerter Application

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.

micro corrosion with protection of mci coatings

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

 

Let’s start a new project together. Contact us now!