What VCI stretch film is
BENZ VCI stretch film is linear-low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) stretch wrap that carries volatile corrosion inhibitors in the film. You apply it the same way as ordinary pallet wrap: hand roll or machine wrapper. The wrap unitises the load. The VCI vapour fills the enclosed air around the metal and settles on exposed surfaces, including threads and recesses that oil films miss. When the wrap is removed, the vapour dissipates. Parts stay dry and can go to inspection, paint or assembly without a degreasing step.
Ordinary stretch film only holds cartons together. It does not stop rust. A VCI bag protects metal but does not unitise a pallet. This grade does both jobs when the wrap is complete and the metal is packed clean and dry.
How the wrap has to be used
VCI stretch film is not a weatherproof outdoor cover and it is not a vacuum bag. Protection needs a reasonably closed wrap so vapour stays around the metal.
- Pack only clean, dry metal. Coolant, fingerprints and wet cardboard undo the pack.
- Use enough layers to cover every face. Leave no open chimney through the centre of the pallet.
- Match hall and metal temperature before wrapping so the load does not sweat under the film.
- For long storage or ocean dwell, add VCI paper interleaving, a sealed VCI bag or desiccant. Stretch wrap alone is not a five-year sealed system.
- Do not treat stretch wrap as outdoor protection. UV and rain need a different enclosure.
Hand grade and machine grade
Buyers search for both. They are the same chemistry in different roll builds.
- Hand grade: narrower rolls for manual wrapping of mixed pallets, repair loads and short lines. Lower unwind force. Typical widths are quoted on the order.
- Machine grade: wider rolls for turntable or rotary-arm wrappers. Pre-stretch is set on the machine. Confirm the wrapper's stretch setting against the grade you buy. Do not assume a published 400 percent figure. Wrapper capability and film grade must match.
The documented thickness on this page is 23 micrometres (±5 percent), ISO 4593. Other gauges are quoted when the wrapper, load weight or puncture risk needs them. The old marketing line that listed 9 to 55 micrometres as a single stock range is withdrawn. Ask what is available for the SKU.
Density, thickness and the 21 g/cm3 error
Polyethylene stretch film density by ISO 1183 is about 0.91 to 0.93 g/cm3. That is the industry range for LLDPE. A figure of 21 to 21.50 g/cm3 is not a plastic film density. Water is 1 g/cm3. Steel is about 7.8. The 21 to 21.50 number matches the mass per square metre of a 23 micrometre PE film (about 21 g/m2), not ISO 1183 density. This page now states both values correctly.
What metals it is specified for
Specify a multi-metal, nitrite-free grade when steel, cast iron, aluminium, copper, brass or plated hardware share the pallet. Ferrous-only grades exist in the wider VCI film family. Do not assume one SKU covers yellow metals unless the grade sheet says so. Ask for the current SDS and metal-compatibility note with the order.
VCI stretch film compared with other packs
| Need | Use |
|---|
| Pallet unitisation plus vapour protection | VCI stretch film |
| Sealed bag around one part or kit | Multimetal VCI film bags |
| Interleaving stacked faces | VCI plain paper |
| Heat-tunnel unit load | VCI shrink film |
| Free moisture in a sealed volume | Desiccants |
| Outdoor weather | Engineered cover, not stretch wrap |
Documents you can ask for
ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are plant systems. REACH, RoHS, TRGS 615 and metal-compatibility notes are issued against a named grade. A product page is not those documents. Ask for the current SDS and test sheets that apply to the SKU.
Questions buyers actually ask
What is VCI stretch film used for?
It wraps palletised or bundled metal so the load stays unitised and the enclosed air carries a corrosion inhibitor. Typical uses are machined parts, castings, engines, tools and boxed metal kits moving through a warehouse or a truck.
Is VCI stretch film the same as ordinary stretch wrap?
No. Ordinary LLDPE wrap holds the load. It does not inhibit rust. BENZ VCI stretch film is LLDPE plus VCI chemistry. You still need a complete wrap.
What thickness should I buy?
The published grade on this page is 23 micrometres (±5 percent). Heavier or lighter gauges are quoted when the wrapper or the load requires them. Confirm the thickness on the order. Do not use a 9 to 55 micrometre range as a stock promise.
How long does the protection last?
Duration depends on wrap completeness, climate, metal mix and whether the pack stays closed. Stretch wrap is not a hermetic five-year barrier. For long storage or ocean dwell, combine film with paper, a sealed bag or desiccant. Ask for the current grade sheet rather than treating a website number as a guarantee.
Hand wrap or machine wrap?
Hand rolls for mixed or low-volume pallets. Machine rolls for wrappers. Pre-stretch is a machine setting, not a licence to claim 400 percent on every load. Match the film grade to the wrapper.
Is the film recyclable?
Plain PE stretch film enters PE recovery streams where those streams exist. Confirm local recycling. Do not describe it as compostable.
Can it replace rust-preventive oil?
On clean, dry parts inside a complete wrap, VCI stretch film is specified so parts unwrap dry. Oil is still used when the process or the customer specification requires a wet film. The two are not automatic substitutes.