The new fluid could be used on airplanes like the one shown in the picture.
Click on image for full size
Correl photography
The Wonder Fluid
News story originally written on August 12, 1997
NASA has designed a wonder fluid. It is a non-toxic fluid that will keep ice from building up on airplanes. The fluid also reduces rusting on cars and would be a good substitute for all of the salt used to de-ice our roads in the winter. On top of all of this, the fluid is so environmentally safe that it is referred to as "food grade," because the ingredients used in making it have all been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in food. This certainly could be a wonder fluid!
Worldwide, about a half a billion gallons of de-icing fluid are used on airplanes annually. Anti-icing fluids used now are not very safe. They can sicken or kill water life, animals, and humans due to the ingredients used. Much of it could be replaced by the new non-toxic fluid.
The new fluid could be used for many different purposes. Co-inventor Haslim said, "You can even spray the stuff on your windshield the
night before you go to work, and the next morning, the wiper
blades will easily push the ice completely off the glass."
The new fluid is neutral, neither an acid nor a base. Its color has been described as lime-green!
The fluid is now under test by government and industry
for aircraft use. Comparison tests will be run against corrosive
de-icing salts as well as other de-icing materials. If the tests show the new fluid isabout as good as salts for ice removal, the fluid will be tried on
a highway test strip.
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