I came across an article in CleanTech magazine today (
www.cleantechcentral.com ) that discusses nPB and pFB's (normal-propyl bromide, and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane).
They're used, blended (as they work better together than individually), to improve the cleaning effect, by having an increased ability to wet a surface to be cleaned. They're also very good at removing oils, even silicone oil. They're meant as replacement to CC (ChloroCarbons), HC (HydroChlorocarbon), and CFC (ChloroFluoroCarbon), which have all been banned. They are solvents, not surfactants. They can attack some plastics.
The article mentions that water (pure) tends to "bead up", so it doesn't "spread evenly" (relevance?) but the nPB and pFB blend doesn't bead, and not only "spreads fast", it also "penetrates microscopic crevices" and "flows into blind holes" much more effectively than either component alone.
The article includes results of a drop spread experiment.
So now I'm wondering, what is it exactly that makes the water wetter, and what (readily?) available substances are out there? If microscopic crevice penetration is desirable (for better cooling?), why can't water do it, and what can I do (if anything) to make my water "wetter"?
What if I use Windshield Wiper fluid? What if it has a little soap in it?