Category: Press Release

The concept of value engineering is not only for the construction phase. It is also a useful practice during the maintenance and repair stages of existing reinforced concrete structures, ensuring projects get done within budget. True value engineering saves money without reducing service life or affecting the quality of construction or materials. Ideally, it adds value to the project. MCI^®-2019 is one such value engineering solution to take advantage of when seeking to extend the service life of existing concrete structures.

The Benefit of MCI^® Water Repellents

MCI^®-2019 is a 40% silane, solvent-based concrete water repellent containing Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors. The small molecules of MCI^®-2019 can easily penetrate into concrete, providing water repellency by chemically reacting with cementitious substrates under proper application. MCI^®-2019 seals surface pores, which prevents intrusion of chloride and carbonation and protects from the ingress of wind driven rain. Treated areas retain their original appearance and are breathable. MCI^®-2019 is an excellent option both as the finishing touch on a concrete repair (where no membrane or coating system is used) and for periodic maintenance every 7-10 years. Since MCI^®-2019 increases service life, it can ultimately reduce the use of repair or reconstruction materials, thus contributing to sustainability.

Coping with Silane Shortages

One of the big challenges for the construction industry and many others today is the issue of raw material shortages (consequently driving the cost of materials up). For instance, silane supplies are often delayed or difficult to find. Using only a 40% silane relaxes the demand and helps the supply go farther while still providing a significant degree of water repellency. Since MCI^®-2019 contains Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors that provide active corrosion protection at the rebar, the need for 100% silane is also not as strong because a dual mechanism is at work to keep corrosives out and resist those that do find their way in.

Cutting Costs

In addition to working around supply chain shortages, MCI^®-2019 is also a great way to help cut costs when working on a limited budget. This is especially true with the current combination of supply chain shortages and inflation driving up the price of silane even farther. Using MCI^®-2019 saves costs compared to similar alternative systems. It can help a project stay within budget while still offering an excellent source of corrosion protection.

Saving Labor Time and Intensity

Another way MCI^®-2019 can save costs is simply by requiring less labor than other water repellents and surface applied corrosion inhibitors (SACIs). Silane wears out and erodes over time, so a good maintenance practice is to reapply it at 7–10-year intervals to maintain concrete water resistance and simultaneously add another dose of SACIs. Usually, workers water-blast the surface to make sure the silane residual is completely cleaned off and then apply a new SACI and a 100% silane water repellent. However, with MCI^®– 2019, this may be unnecessary. Workers can save time by applying one or two coats of a two-in-one product and leaving the old silane in place. The silane in MCI^®-2019 supplements any residual silane, while Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors are still able to penetrate into the concrete. A further advantage is that MCI^®– 2019 does not etch, stain, discolor, or otherwise harm glass or aluminum.

Repair of University Towers

In 2015, three 1970’s cast-in-place concrete residence towers at a Midwestern university required repair due to rusted rebar in concrete. After using MCI^®-2019 instead of a standard 40% solids silane water repellent post repair, the project’s specifying engineer commented, “MCI^®-2019 provided a cost-effective solution in applying both a migrating corrosion inhibitor and a silane sealer in a single product in one application with no resulting color change to concrete façade[s].” The non-etching feature was crucial to the protection of the structure’s new windows, and the parties involved were happy with the ease of MCI^®-2019 application.

Be Ready with Multiple Value Engineering Solutions

In today’s market, it is important to have many different value engineering options at one’s fingertips. MCI^®-2019 is one that can help engineers and contractors cope with silane shortages and stay within budget all while fortifying concrete with corrosion inhibitors to extend service life. Contact Cortec® to discuss this and other value engineering solutions for your construction and repair projects: https://www.cortecmci.com/contact-us/

Keywords: value engineering, concrete maintenance, concrete repair, extend service life, sustainability, raw material shortage, rusted rebar in concrete, Cortec MCI, From Grey to Green, surface treatment

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Cortec^® Corporation is the global leader in innovative, environmentally responsible VpCI^® and MCI^® corrosion control technologies for Packaging, Metalworking, Construction, Electronics, Water Treatment, Oil & Gas, and other industries. Our relentless dedication to sustainability, quality, service, and support is unmatched in the industry. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Cortec^® manufactures over 400 products distributed worldwide. ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, & ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified. Cortec^® Website: https://www.cortecvci.com Phone: 1-800-426-7832 FAX: (651) 429-1122

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Each coating job has different priorities-whether convenience, corrosion protection, outdoor durability, or chemical resistance. In the first case, single-component, one-coat, direct-to-metal (DTM) coatings systems are great for applications that need quick protection without a lot of time to wait for primers and multiple coats to dry and cure. However, when time does allow, it is best to put in a little extra effort—using 2K products, primers, and multiple coats-in order to achieve the best coating performance possible. That is where VpCI®-395 comes in as Cortec’s first-class, 2K metal primer for corrosion protection!

Why Use VpCI®-395?
There are many great reasons to use VpCI®-395 Water-Based Epoxy Primer. For starters, VpCI®-395 is Cortec’s most durable anticorrosion primer. It not only promotes good surface adhesion between the metal and topcoats, but it also has greater strength as a 2K (two-component) primer. The extra effort that goes into mixing two parts together at the jobsite translates into greater durability because it allows crosslinking, i.e., greater chemical bonding, between the active ingredients in the primer. VpCI®-395 shows excellent performance in salt spray and humidity testing. In addition to promoting a stronger coatings system that inhibits corrosion, VpCI®-395 has the worker and environmental advantage of being water-based. Water-based coatings typically make cleanup easier and are often associated with lower VOCs (0.2 lbs/gal [24 g/L] in the case of VpCI®-395). Thus, VpCI®-395 reduces worker exposure to solvents both in the painting and cleanup process.

Where to Use VpCI®-395
VpCI®-395 is excellent for use in immersion applications and chemical plants because of the toughness of its epoxy. It can be applied as a primer inside tanks and on handrails and metal walkways. Indoors, VpCI®-395 can also be used as a topcoat (since UV resistance is not needed) and tinted to match the plant’s color scheme. Outdoors, VpCI®-395 can be combined with EcoShield® VpCI®-386 to create one of Cortec’s best water-based anticorrosion coatings system. It can also be used with a 2K urethane one-coat system such as VpCI®-384 for even greater durability if a water-based topcoat is not needed.

Going the Extra Mile for Coatings System Success
Often, the most difficult part of a job is the prep-work-whether surface prep, additional mixing, or extra effort to apply a primer. However, these tasks can offer invaluable payoffs in terms of adhesion and overall coating durability. In the case of VpCI®-395, the extra mixing of two components rewards users with a stronger primer to help maximize the success and corrosion protection of the entire coatings system. Next time your coating project can afford to go the extra mile for greater coating durability, be sure to contact Cortec® about VpCI®-395 Water-Based Epoxy Primer for a great start to your coatings system:
https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: anticorrosion coating, coating durability, corrosion protection, DTM coatings, water-based epoxy primer, anticorrosion primer, crosslinking coatings, 2K metal primer, Cortec, good surface adhesion

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No one typically enjoys bad smells. This makes life especially difficult for anyone dealing with odor problem areas such as garbage cans, restrooms, manure pits, wastewater treatment plants, and garbage processing facilities. Sometimes, an accidental garbage spill or the rotting of a hidden substance can cause odor surprises in unexpected areas. Whether or not the problem is routine or sudden, it is important to have an odor control solution that will not only cover up bad smells but also eliminate them. Bionetix® odor control products make use of natural technologies to do exactly that and more.

Tackling Odor from Two Angles
Bionetix® odor control technologies involve two main mechanisms. One aspect is to eliminate the materials that are causing the odor. This can be done both by cleaning the surface with detergent and also by introducing beneficial microorganisms that biodegrade the odor-emitting substances and continue to work even after the initial cleaning. The second mechanism works to actually bind the odorous molecules or inhibit their activity, thus reducing the concentration of odorous compounds. Products containing these odor neutralizers can be chosen based on the primary purpose of the application: odor control, cleaning, or accelerated waste digestion.

Odor Neutralizer with Cleaning Properties
When odor control is the main concern and cleaning is a side benefit, ECO-SCENT™ is a great ready-to-use technology. This liquid odor control can be sprayed in garbage pails, inside dumpsters and garbage trucks, on carpets, on bathroom surfaces, and in laundry and fitness facilities to eliminate odors and leave behind a fresh smell. It can also be added to mop water to clean floors around urinals or other areas notorious for contaminant buildup and bad odors.

ECO-SCENT™ contains synergistic bio-strains, surfactants, nutrients, stimulants, and odor-neutralizing agents that ensure excellent breakdown of starches, carbohydrates, protein, fats, and greases. While beneficial bacteria in ECO-SCENT™ work to digest odor-causing compounds even after the initial application, the natural active odor neutralizing ingredient forms a complex with odor-causing organic compounds, yielding a lower concentration of these organic molecules. This readily biodegradable, non-hazardous odor neutralizer encapsulates odorous molecules such as hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, smoke, sweat,
and ammonia to remove bad odors and not just mask the smell. The same biotechnology is available in a pre-stabilized multiple spore blend concentrate (HYGIEA2200™) manufactured specifically for large volume accounts with formulation capabilities.

Industrial Cleaner with Odor Neutralizing Properties
HYGIEA2400™ is another multiple spore blend liquid concentrate that can be formulated into cleaning and odor control products. It also contains an odor neutralizer but is primarily designed for use in industrial cleaning applications, with odor control as a side benefit. Products made from HYGIEA2400™ can be used to clean a wide variety of organic wastes such as grease, fats, oils, starches, proteins, and cellulose while simultaneously performing efficient odor control.

Odor Control for Large Scale Waste Treatment
Wastewater treatment plants and farms that need large scale odor control but not cleaning can opt for STIMULUS™. STIMULUS™ is a natural biostimulant,
surfactant, and odor control product derived from natural plant extract. It can be used to treat wastewater and agricultural waste by stimulating natural decomposition processes to work more rapidly. This naturally reduces odors by encouraging better aerobic digestion conditions and reducing the amount of waste and sludge in the system. Beyond this, STIMULUS™ also binds ammonia and inhibits urease activity, thus decreasing the concentration of odorous compounds. STIMULUS™ can be sprayed on compost and manure piles or added directly to sludge.

Eliminate Unpleasant Odors
Unpleasant odors are just that: unpleasant, with a negative impact on both employee and public relations. Bad odors can send facility or asset owners scrambling to cover up the unpleasant smells in whatever way they are able. Often this means only masking the odor without getting rid of the underlying cause, and possibly not solving the problem at all. By taking advantage of Bionetix® natural odor control mechanisms, users can eliminate odor and not just cover it up, creating a better long-term solution for both expected and unexpected odor problems. Contact us for further assistance in choosing the right technology to eliminate unpleasant odors!
https://www.bionetix-international.com/contact-us/

Keywords: eliminate bad odors, odor problems, Bionetix, odor control products, odor neutralizer, biotechnology, wastewater treatment odor control, farm odor control, natural odor control, remove bad odors

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Corrosion is an irreversible process that costs industries time and money to deal with the effects. Corrosion prevention is therefore in the best interest of manufacturers and asset owners responsible for covering losses from deteriorating assets. While protective VCI packaging solves many metal shipping and storage needs, it is not always the optimal choice for certain metal shapes or storage/transit settings. When this is the case, Cortec’s VpCI^®-391 is an excellent removable coating to consider for temporary or even long-term corrosion protection.

Unnoticeable Dry Film Rust Preventative Coating

VpCI^®-391 is a fast-drying water-based temporary coating that dries to a thin, clear, virtually unnoticeable non-tacky film. It is perfect for protecting bare metal surfaces from corrosion in transit or temporary storage but can also be applied directly over painted surfaces. VpCI^®-391 provides protection indoors and outdoors and is easy to remove with an alkaline cleaner if desired. These features have made it a popular temporary rust preventative coating that displaces traditional greasy, oily rust preventatives with an unnoticeable temporary protective coating that is drastically more convenient.

Clean, Convenient Corrosion Protection

There are many advantages to using VpCI^®-391. In addition to its corrosion protection, the dry, non-tacky surface finish stays much cleaner than traditional oily/greasy rust preventatives that tend to collect insects, dust, and other contaminants on their sticky surfaces. It also weathers much better in outdoor applications. Furthermore, testing has found that VpCI^®-391 does not negatively impact weld geometry or mechanical properties of the weld, allowing welders to easily keep surfaces corrosion-free prior to welding without extensive surface-prep hassle.

When and Where to Use VpCI^®-391

The possibilities for using VpCI^®-391 are endless. Examples include the following:

• Heavy Equipment
• Machinery
• Vehicles
• Piping
• Structural Steel

Transit is one period in which VpCI^®-391 is beneficial for safeguarding brand-new metal components—whether fire trucks, valves, or front-end loaders—from unpredictable exposure to harsh weather conditions on land and sea. It can be sprayed over unpainted bolts and metal tubes as well as metal wheel rims or entire painted vehicles. Since VpCI^®-391 is relatively unnoticeable, distributors often leave it on new equipment until resale.

VpCI^®-391 is also great for storage and layup. For example, VpCI^®-391 can be applied right over painted railings and equipment on offshore platforms for extra corrosion protection during rig-stacking. Pipeline segments stored in laydown yards may be coated with VpCI^®-391 to protect weld ends from rusting. At the time of assembly or installation, the welder can simply clean off the coating or weld directly over it, instead of spending extra time grinding away opportunistic rust that could otherwise set in.

A third purpose for VpCI^®-391 is preventative maintenance. For instance, one company that uses front-end loaders to move high volumes of deicing salts or fertilizers has adopted VpCI^®-391 as part of their annual preventative maintenance routine. By applying VpCI^®-391 over the vehicles once a year during the slow season, the equipment lasts longer and does not look 10 years old after just one year of use.

Effective, Easy, and Inconspicuous

Anyone who needs a dry temporary corrosion protection coating should consider VpCI^®-391 as an easy, effective, versatile, and inconspicuous option. It looks good and performs well even in outdoor environments, allowing users the advantage of unobtrusive corrosion protection during the transit, storage, or maintenance phase. Contact Cortec^® today to learn more about using VpCI^®-391:

https://www.corteccoatings.com/contact-us-2/

Keywords: rust preventative coating, VCI packaging, corrosion prevention, metal shipping and storage needs, removable coating, keep weld surfaces corrosion free, preventative maintenance, Cortec, Cortec Coatings, transit coatings

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