What is VCI?

The term VCI or VPI stands for a substance class of volatile substances, which have the property of sublimating directly from the solid state into the gas phase due to their high vapour pressure. From the gas phase, these substances form a monomolecular protective film, which protects against corrosion, on metal surfaces.

This system was developed in the middle of the last century by Shell and initially used in paper. At the beginning of the last decade, Northern Technologies International Corporation succeeded in manufacturing VCI films on the basis of polyethylene.

VCI is not a registered trademark from which the constituents used and the resulting properties for corrosion protection, health and environment can be derived. The acronym VCI merely describes a functional principle. Against this background, comparisons are particularly difficult because no definitive quality criteria have been established by the users.