It is no fun to have
corrosion right in the middle of the manufacturing process. Sometimes even the
right rust preventatives with the wrong handling can lead to corrosion troubles
that slow down the WIP (work-in-progress) cycle. To avoid these unwelcome surprises, Jessica
Carpenter (a Cortec® Regional Sales Manager with 16+ years of industry
experience) shares simple tips on how to avoid corrosion and keep your WIP
cycle running smoothly.
Tip
One: Add Flash Corrosion Protection to Your Rinse Water
The rinse stage itself can
be a tricky cycle because it raises the risk of f lash rust. Jessica recommends
adding 2-3% of a VpCI®-41x Series cleaner (containing flash rust preventatives)
to the rinse water and monitoring concentration at every shift to avoid flash
rust.
Tip
Two: Cool and Dry Parts Completely
If parts are not cool and
dry before they go into a package, moisture condensation is likely, again
heightening the risk of corrosion. Jessica suggests reducing air knife or
blower temperature after washing to cool down parts or lengthening the conveyer
to allow more drying and cooling time after the wash process.
Tip
Three: Be Careful What You Touch
Jessica Carpenter reminds
manufacturers not to touch metal with bare hands and not to place metal parts
on cardboard or wood during the WIP cycle. Fingerprints can cause corrosion
because of the pH/acidity of the skin, while wood or cardboard can hold
moisture against the metal. The solution? Wear gloves and line crates or boxes
with CorShield® VpCI®-146 Paper.
Ready,
Set, WIP Cycle!
The tips above are great
ways to streamline your WIP cycle to get parts through the manufacturing
process, into the package, and to the customer without unwelcome rust
surprises. Contact our team for more expert advice on solving specific
corrosion problems in your WIP cycle!
