A short video about VCIs (Patreon)

Let's talk about VCI corrosion inhibitors

If you've ever seen the little bit of brown paper wrapped around a new bearing or tool, and wondered what it's for, then here's the answer. A VCI (Volatile/Vapour Corrosion Inhibitor) is an oily liquid that is often supplied pre-soaked into a slow release carrier like a sponge, porous tablet, paper or plastic block. Its purpose is to slowly release a vapour that coats all surfaces in an enclosure with a molecular layer of oil to shield surfaces against water vapour and oxygen to limit oxidation. They are used to protect entire electrical panels, toolboxes, storage cabinets and individual tools or components against corrosion. What are your thoughts on the composition of these? Is it just a fine oil and solvent like WD40, a blend of volatile and heavier oil or something more complex. Have you ever come across the use of camphor or other materials in a similar application? As mentioned in the video, it's important not to use VCIs in panels with modern solid state dehumidifier panels, as the deposition of an oil film on them will prevent them from operating correctly, since they work by absorbing humidity and transferring it outside using electroosmosis. If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:- https://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's algorithm quirks, allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty. #ElectronicsCreators