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The Wonder Fluid
News story originally written on August 12, 1997
At NASA Ames Research Center in California, a wonder fluid has been designed. This non-toxic fluid promises to make flying safer by keeping ice from building up on airplanes. The fluid is also thought to reduce rust and corrosion 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 these qualities, the fluid is so environmentally safe that it is referred to as "food grade," because the ingredients used in its making 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 aircraft de-icing fluid are used annually. Currently used anti-icing fluids 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 according to co-inventor Haslim.
"When you look at the high costs of rust and other salt damage to cars, bridges, roads and the environment, it's obvious that using this new anti-icing fluid can save a lot of money," 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", he added.
The new fluid is neutral, neither an acid nor a base. Its color has been described as lime-green! The Ames 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, such as calcium magnesium acetate. If the tests show the new fluid is about as good as salts for ice removal, the fluid will be tried on a highway test strip.
