What is temporary rust protection and is MET L GARD only temporary rust preventive?
For temporary rust protection the protective coating must not only be easy to apply but must also be easy to remove without any damage to the surface. MET L GARD therefore is temporary rust preventive oil.
MET L GARD has many products in it's range. Which product should I use for my application?
MET L GARD has many products to suit the varied requirements of protection. Please refer to the product selection guide to choose the best MET L GARD product for your application.
How do I apply MET L GARD?
MET L GARD can be applied by brushing, dipping or spraying. MET L GARD 5002 CR can be applied by electrostatic spray oiler.
Do I need to dilute MET L GARD before using?
No. MET L GARD can be used as is.
What is the surface preparation required before I apply MET L GARD? Normally there is no surface preparation required before MET L GARD is applied as the rust preventive oil is designed to replace contaminants like water, dust, etc. However if the surface has adherent materials like paint, sticker, etc, they have to be removed.
What is the coverage of MET L GARD products? How many components can I coat with 1 litre of MET L GARD?
Coverage is usually measured as surface area (sq.mt.) per volume (in litres). MET L GARD products coverage ranges from 60 sq.mt. per ltr. to 250 sq.mt. per ltr. depending on product viscosity, Non volatile matter and other parameters. These values are by dip method.
Can MET L GARD be used for protecting non ferrous metals like Aluminium, Copper, etc?
Yes. Met L GARD as the name indicates, protects all metal surfaces from atmospheric oxidation process by forming an effective protective film.
Do I need to allow MET L GARD to dry after application? / Can I pack the components immediately after MET L GARD application?
A typical rust preventive oil has a carrier (oil or solvent) and protective additive. In order to have uniform and thin layer of this additive it is necessary for the carrier to evaporate leaving behind the additive layer. additionally the expelled moisture from the surface if not allowed to escape, may be entrapped in tight packing leading to stains. Normally a solvent based (Solvent with 40C flash point) rust preventive oil needs atleast 15 minutes of natural drying.
Does more film thickness mean better rust protection?
No. Film thickness alone does not contribute to rust protection. Degree of protection depends on quality of additive package.
Do I need to use VCI paper after application of MET L GARD?
VCI paper aids in protection of components by displacing air ( which causes the rust ) with a corrosion resistant vapor. This process is not foolproof as there may be air entrapment between the VCI paper and the component. Contrary to this, a good rust preventive oil if applied correctly, will cover the entire surface of the components and prevent their direct contact with the air. Hence there is no need to use VCI paper after application of the rust preventive oil and proper packing.
MET L GARD RP 601CR has flash point of 40 Deg C. Does it mean that I should not use this product if the ambient temperature is more than 40 Deg C?
Flash point is the lowest temperature at which the product will emit enough vapors to ignite when an external flame is applied. The test is done under specified test conditions. Lower the flash point, higher the risk.
The answer to the question is -- It does not mean that the product will catch fire at 40 Deg C. You can still use the product as long as you ensure that there is no source of flame and the vapors generated from the liquid are well ventilated out to reduce the density of vapors.
I keep MET L GARD in open tank. Will it have any impact on properties of material?
Every liquid evaporates if kept in open tank. The rate of evaporation depends on the type of medium used in MET L GARD. For example, the loss of evaporation in case of MET L GARD 601 CR (solvent based) is approximately 20% in 8 hours. The loss of evaporation is dependant on ambient temperature and surface area of the tank. The evaporation rate is more in summer compared to other seasons.
Do i need to take any special precautions in different seasons?
All MET L GARD products are designed to withstand conditions of different seasons. Hence, no special precaution is required.
How do I extrapolate salt spray and humidity test results to actual protection period? These tests are accelerated tests and well accepted globally. As a thumb rule, 8-10 hours of salt spray protection means that the rust preventive oil offers protection of 30 - 45 days in doors in packed condition. It is difficult to extrapolate to protection components in open condition ( without packing ) as it depends on the severity of the environment. Extrapolation of humidity results is not generally practised.
Can I use my components to check salt spray performance?
No. salt spray test is carried out as per procedure mentioned by ASTM B 117. The procedure recommends usage of standard panels. The components usually have complex shape and if tested for salt spray, may give erratic results due to accumulation of salt solution at some inner parts.
Sometimes my customer complains of poor degreasing of MET LGARD?
How should I handle this complaint?
Degreasing efficiency depends on concentration of the degreasing chemical, bath temperature and life, contaminants, water quality, etc. We recommend that these parameters are verified for conformance. ITW India can test the sample of 'in use' MET L GARD for any discrepancy and conform to you.
Can I dip my components more times in MET L GARD for better protection and longer life? No, by doing so you will remove the original coat and form a new which results in same film thickness.
My jobs are exposed to sun light. will it have any effect on the rust preventive coat? No. But the rise in temperature may reduce film thickness and hence may not offered the required protection.
Can I weld on MET L GARD cated components?
Yes. How ever there may be some fumes from the rust preventive layer. We recommend that these vapors are vented out properly.
What are the other factors, which contribute the rusting after packing?
Rust preventives protect the components from atmospheric oxidation. But the packing material like polyethylene in some cases like recycled or improper quality contains some free acidity and that in turn contact with metal coated surface may give stains.
Besides this the unseasoned wood package also release some carboxylic acid vapors, which may cause rusting to the components.
Sometimes in a lot, some of the components gets pin holes rust marks from our customer. Is it because of inconsistency in rust preventive oil?
The rust preventive oil is homogenous in nature. Any defective rust preventive oil will have impact on all components. In case of some of the components rusting in a big lot might be due to improper dewatering or any external contamination.
Some of my coated components have thicker rust preventive film, though my operation is normal. Why?
Rust preventive oil consists of a carrier and rust protecting additives. If the oil is stored in open vessel there is a chance of the carrier evaporating which results in higher concentration of the additive. This is the reason for thicker film.
What way the water displacement property benefits the protection?
Due to it's feature, the rust preventive oil ( refer to the technical data sheet to verify if it has this property ) replaces/displaces the moisture or water traces from the surface. This feature enables application of the oil even on wet or moistened surfaces.
MET L GARD products claim that they pass emulsification test. What does this mean?
It means that MET L GARD products do not emulsify with water. This implies that the oil repels with water indicating resistance towards moisture.
