5 Tips to Prevent Rust Before Parts Reach the Coater

How Rust Forms 

Tip #1: Apply a Rust Inhibitor Before Shipping Parts:

Especially in the summer, humidity and high temperatures are inescapable during transit. Unless the semi-truck is climate-controlled, parts may sit in a confined space exposed to moisture and air. One way to combat this is to apply a rust inhibitor to the parts before they are loaded and shipped. The inhibitor acts as a barrier, protecting parts from moisture and air, which are the two ingredients needed for rust to form. The residue left by the inhibitor can ultimately be removed during surface preparation at our facility before parts are coated, making it a useful step for customers looking to protect their parts.

Tip #2: Avoid Moisture-Holding Packaging

Tip #3: Use VCI Paper for Corrosion Protection

VCI paper is another simple way to help prevent corrosion during shipping. The paper is infused with a chemical compound that is released to protect metal parts from moisture and oxygen. When packing parts to ship to your coating applicator, simply add layers of VCI paper between the parts to help protect them from rust and corrosion while they are in transit.

Tip #4: Minimize Time in Transit and Storage

Parts are most likely to develop corrosion while they are sitting in transit. Keeping the time they spend in trucks as short as possible can help limit their exposure to moisture and humidity. Even if parts leave the facility rust-free, they can arrive with rust, which means extra surface preparation. This can delay the coating process and add extra time and cost to the project.

Tip #5: Keep Parts Covered and Sealed

The last tip is to make sure your parts are covered. If water is dripping directly onto the parts, it can make all of the other solutions above ineffective. It may sound simple, but covering your parts can make a big difference. It is an easy step to forget, but taking the extra time to cover parts before shipping can make the difference between rust and a part that is all ready to be coated.

What Happens When Rust Reaches the Coater?

When deteriorated parts arrive at our facility, we first look at how much of the part is affected. From there, we determine the best way to remove the rust, which is typically through aluminum oxide shot blasting from hand blast or tumble blast cabinets. Once the rust is removed, the parts can continue through the rest of the surface treatment process. If corrosion removal was not part of the original project, it can take extra time to get the parts scheduled for blasting and back on track for coating. Because of the additional time and services needed, this can also increase the overall cost of the project.

Why Rust is So detrimental To Functional Coatings

Rust is porous, allowing moisture and air to keep working beneath the surface even after a coating is applied. Because of this, you can not apply a coating over eroded material, and the part is good to go. The porous surface will not let a coating properly adhere to the part, causing chipping and peeling, opening the part up to water and air, and spreading the weakened area throughout the part. Especially for functional coatings, proper surface preparation is important because the coating is there to provide more than just appearance. It needs to perform. Strong adhesion and a properly prepared surface help ensure the coating can deliver the protection and performance the part requires.

Prevent corrosion Before It Becomes a Coating Problem

Addressing the problem before parts are shipped to your coating company can save you and your coater unnecessary headaches. Taking these preventive measures ensures parts are coated properly and quickly. However, there are times when rust is unavoidable, so make sure you are choosing a coating company that has multiple surface treatment options for any problems that can arise.

Have questions about the corrosion prevention process or want to learn the best ways to protect your parts? Contact The DECC Company to learn more about surface preparation, rust prevention, and how we can help keep your parts ready for coating.