NEWS ALERT: VpCI® in the Music World – Corrosion Protection of Musical Instrument Strings
What does Cortec® VpCI® Packaging have to do with music? It could have a lot to do with the musical instrument string supply chain that makes it possible for guitars, violins, pianos, and harps to add a musical dimension to our lives.
Uncontrolled Shipping and Storage Conditions
Since music is an international language, it is not surprising that musical strings are shipped internationally to get to musical instrument players. The time between manufacturing and receipt by the end user can be filled with big question marks for suppliers. What environmental conditions will the strings encounter during shipping? Will they experience condensation and subsequent corrosion inside packaging due to fluctuating temperatures, humidity, or salt spray? Will an entire shipment be rusty and have to be returned? How long and in what conditions will the strings sit on the distributor shelf before they are sold?
Enter, VpCI® Packaging
An easy way to inhibit corrosion during the unpredictable shipping and storage phases is to substitute VCI/ VpCI® packaging in place of bags or envelopes that only provide a moisture barrier or less. VpCI® Films such as CorShield® VpCI®-220E condition the inside of the package with corrosion inhibiting vapors that form an invisible molecular protective layer on the surface of the metals. CorShield® VpCI®-220E Bags protect aluminum, carbon steel, and copper-some of the metals commonly found in musical instrument strings.
EcoShield® VpCI®-144 works similarly. This recyclable barrier paper is coated with Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors and can be formed into tidy instrument string envelopes. It is a USDA Certified Biobased Product and protects a variety of steels, aluminum alloys, copper, brass, and solder. Another option for eco-conscious string suppliers is to consider making packaging out of Eco-Corr Film®, a VpCI® Film that is certified industrially compostable by TUV Austria (#TA8012206603).*
For tarnish protection on silver strings, manufacturers and distributors can also add a Corrosorber® to the package to capture sulfur and similar corrosive species in the air.
Reaching for a New String
Whatever the preferred format, VpCI® packaging is an excellent way to protect musical instrument strings between the time they are manufactured and the time musicians reach for a new string to add to their instrument. Contact Cortec® to learn about these musical instrument string packaging options!
Keywords: VCI film, corrosion on musical instrument strings, Cortec, musical instrument strings, guitar string packaging, moisture resistant packaging for strings, piano string packaging, preventing string tarnish, musical instrument string packaging, corrosion during shipping
* This product is intended to be composted in a commercial composting facility operated in accordance with best management practices. Check locally to see if such a facility exists in your community and if they will accept this product. Not suitable for backyard composting
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