This standard provides recommended selection factors, surface preparation requirements, and references to applicable standard evaluation and quality control tests for interim coatings (rust preventives and vapor phase corrosion inhibitors) that provide temporary corrosion protection to parts, such as finished machine tools, boilers, turbines, diesel engines, transportation equipment, earth moving equipment, and other machinery, during shipment and storage.

Interim coatings deposited on parts in process are normally from 0.5 to 75 µm (0.02 to 3.0 mils) thick. Some heavy-duty interim coatings, wrappers, and waxpetrolatum tapes may be up to 2,000 µm (80 mils) thick, while a vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI) may provide protection with only the thickness of a molecule. These coatings may contain proprietary rust-preventive additives to improve their inherent corrosion-preventive ability.

The type of interim coating selected depends on performance requirements. Typical performance requirements include that the coating can be easily applied, provide corrosion prevention for the exposure and handling conditions outlined, and be removed more readily than conventional coatings. Because there are many types of interim coatings available, the best choice for a particular application depends on the degree of protection required and storage and time considerations, as well as shipping and removal requirements. Interim coatings are applied in the shop or on site by dipping, wiping, brushing, or spraying the component with the rust preventive.