How to Wrap Metal Parts with VCI Film: A Step-by-Step Guide

VCI film is simple to use once you know the one rule: the vapor has to stay inside. Everything below is a way of closing the enclosure properly.

Before you wrap

1. Clean and dry the part. Remove dirt, swarf, moisture and fingerprints. Film sealed over a damp or dirty surface seals the problem in.
2. Let it reach room temperature. A cold part in a warm room collects condensation the moment it is wrapped.
3. Handle with clean gloves where you can. Skin oils and salts start corrosion on bare steel.

Small parts

Cut a length of film about twice the size of the part, place the part in the middle, fold the film over it and seal the edges with tape or a heat sealer. For several small parts, wrap each one rather than one big bundle, so opening one package does not expose the rest. A plain cardboard box lined with VCI film and closed with tape gives the same enclosure for a batch.

Large parts and machinery

Wrap the film fully around the item, overlap every seam by at least 150 mm (6 in) and tape it closed all the way round, including the bottom. Pad sharp edges and corners first with cardboard or foam so the film does not puncture; a hole is a leak. Do not leave the film open at the base: a skirt that is not sealed lets the vapor out and moist air in. For an item on a pallet, wrap the film around both and then use stretch wrap over the outside to hold it in place and protect the film. The stretch film does that job; the VCI film does the protecting.

Common mistakes

• Draping instead of enclosing. A cover that is open at the bottom is a tent, not a seal.
• Wrapping a wet part. The film cannot protect metal that is already corroding.
• Using it as the only protection for a long outdoor store. Film is a barrier and an inhibitor, not a roof. Keep wrapped goods dry and out of standing water.
• Opening and rewrapping. Each opening lets the vapor escape. Wrap it so it can stay wrapped until it is used.
• Mixing metals without checking. If a package holds steel and a non-ferrous metal, check the film’s data sheet for the metals it covers.

How much does a roll cover?

A 36 in × 500 ft roll holds 1,500 square feet of film. If each part needs a 36 in × 24 in sheet, folded and sealed, that is about 250 sheets from one roll. A part that needs a full 36 in × 60 in wrap takes 100 sheets. Work out your own figure from your biggest part, because machinery uses far more film per item than small parts do. Our minimum order is 3 rolls, which is 4,500 square feet.

Check the data sheet

The film’s protection period and the metals it covers come from the manufacturer’s technical data sheet. If you are specifying it for an export or a customer requirement, ask for that sheet before you order. Our guide on what VCI film is explains the background.