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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 2021.PDF
25 JULY i952 FLIGHT 15 Little Drops of Water BY BERNARD HOLLOWOOD AIRCRAFT can and sometimes do go rusty. Yes, -**• just like that. One minute an aircraft is as bright and shiny as a new farthing, and some time later it's revealing unmistakable signs of corrosion. Let that happen and you're simply asking for trouble. Modern aircraft are constructed as far as possible from corrosion-resisting steels and light alloys, but even these when they get together in the presence of water are not entirely immune from attack, and the war against corrosion must be waged relentlessly and without surcease, if you follow me. Much better than spit-and-polish for this purpose are the corrosion-preventive compounds known as corrosion preventives or corrosion-preventive compounds, which are based on petroleum and are therefore made by the petroleum industry. What are they ? Briefly, they are petroleum oils compounded with dispersant soaps and various chemicals. The oil-soap combine does a remarkably neat job on water : it emulsifies it. This means, I think, that the H20 (which is, of course, simply aching to start up some rust somewhere) is first atomised or broken into minute droplets and then snugly wrapped in a protective film of oil. The tiny droplets are then quite harmless since they are denied contact with the metal. My guess is that they go to sleep dreaming of the nasty men in the " Esso " laboratories. Various chemicals, did I say? Yes, special agents charged with the task of taking the sting out of any acids and similar corrosive materials that may be lurking in the water. So these corrosion preventives do their work by screening the metal from the water and by neutralising any acids it may contain. That's the drill. Now these products of the " Esso " organisation come in a wide variety of styles and numerous viscosities. There's an extremely thin little oil suitable for protecting delicate instruments ; there's a handy engine oil that will protect and lubricate almost indefinitely : there are hard-drying compounds that will protect the external parts of engines and airframes with a semi-permanent film (it survives months of handling); and there are many others. The complete set of them does a very useful job: they play a big part in reducing airline operating costs, and they help to keep our air forces at the ready. And need I tell you that one section of the Esso Research Centre is devoted to the improvement of these corrosion preventives ? It is staffed by the rust-and-acid squad, the boys those tiny droplets of water are apt to dream unpleasant dreams about. And need I remind you, too, that— /f- pays fo say FOR ALL PETROLEUM PRODUCTS QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, LONDON, S.W.I ESSO PETROLEUM COMPANY, LIMITED, 36
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