Once rust has set in, you are faced with a choice: should you sand, blast or use a liquid rust remover? Mechanical methods such as grinding are often effective, but they require hard work and can easily damage the base material, alter tolerances or leave marks on sensitive surfaces. Furthermore, the tools rarely reach into threads, nooks and crannies or complex geometries. This is where rust removal using VCI technology makes all the difference.
3 compelling reasons to choose VCI-based rust removal:
- Gentle on the underlying material
Unlike mechanical machining or strong acids, VCI-based rust removers react solely with the rust and oxides. The base metal remains completely intact and retains its exact dimensions and surface finish. - Where tools can’t reach
Liquid or gel-based VCI products penetrate even the smallest cavities, threads and nooks and crannies. Rust is dissolved wherever the liquid comes into contact, saving a huge amount of assembly time and manual labour. - Provides protection during, throughout and after the process
One of the biggest mistakes made when removing rust is to view it as an isolated event rather than a holistic process. When you remove rust, you expose a completely clean, unprotected metal surface that can be affected by flash rust (rapid re-rusting) in the blink of an eye. VCI products are designed to prevent rapid re-rusting during the cleaning process and leave the surface perfectly prepared for long-lasting VCI rust protection.
Rust removal is not a one-off task – it is a process. Simply removing the rust is rarely enough to ensure long-term reliability. A sustainable result requires a complete chain of measures:
– Clean and disinfect (e.g. with Cortec 422)
– Rinse and neutralise
– Protect against and prevent future rust (e.g. by Cortec 325)
Would you like advice on the right method for your production? Every metal and application has its own unique requirements. At Tribotec, we’ll help you choose the right products and approach to save time, protect the environment and safeguard your equipment.
