Climate Control Packaging System
Moisture and humidity can contribute to corrosion and product damage during storage and transportation, particularly when metal goods move through changing climate conditions.
Temperature changes during transit can increase condensation risk. This may occur when cargo moves between different climate zones, when a container cools after daytime heating, or when different parts of a load are at different temperatures.
- When cargo is loaded in cool atmosphere and then shipped across the equator having different climate zones.
- When a container cools down in night after moving during hot day in the sun.
- Different in temperature may also take place due to different in temperature between different parts of cargo.
Effect of Temperature on Humidity
Air can hold different amounts of moisture depending on temperature. When warm, humid air cools sufficiently, excess moisture may condense on nearby surfaces.
Because warmer air can generally hold more water vapour than colder air, cooling can raise relative humidity and may eventually lead to condensation.
Relative Humidity (RH)
Relative humidity, or RH, expresses the amount of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold at the same temperature.
Managing humidity around moisture-sensitive products can help reduce the conditions that promote corrosion, mould or other moisture-related damage.
Packaging performance depends on the product, storage period, barrier material and the amount of moisture that may enter the package during handling and transport.
Protection of Material against Moisture Damage
Moisture-barrier bags can help limit the entry of water vapour when properly sealed around the product.
The effectiveness of a moisture-barrier package depends on the barrier properties and thickness of the selected material as well as the quality of the seal.
Moisture control alone may not address every corrosion mechanism because contaminants such as salts, acids or other chemicals can also contribute to corrosion.
Ultimate Packaging Solution for Protection from Corrosion
Corrosion-control options can include protective oils, VCI paper, VCI films and moisture-barrier packaging, depending on the material and storage environment.
Moisture-barrier bags are particularly useful where humidity and condensation are the primary concerns. Additional corrosion protection may be needed in more aggressive environments.
For demanding applications, VCI packaging and moisture-barrier materials can be combined where appropriate to provide both corrosion-inhibiting and moisture-control functions.
