Week #2: Initial Research and Basic Info

What is penetrating oil, such as WD-40, and what is its purpose?
Penetrating oil is a type of substance used to prevent the formation of rust or sever the bondage the rust has formed between two metals. It is usually associated with smaller metallic parts, such as nuts and bolts. Penetrating oil can also have various scattered uses based on the type, such as being a lubricant or cleaning agent.
Penetrating oil, also known as penetrating fluid, attains its "penetrating" ability through its components and its unique properties. The oil is said to be low-viscosity, which is essentially the "thickness" or "fluidity" of the liquid. The primary components of these substances are usually a mixture between a solvent and an oil. A solvent is a compound that can have any physical state of matter that dissolves a solute, which is any compound that can be dissolved. The oil can also sometimes contain a fuel based gas that may be incorporated with small amounts of other components.
There are many types of penetrating oils other than WD-40, and each has its own benefits. WD-40 is just considered to be the most versatile of the oils, because it has so many uses that it's known as a magical "cure-all" for anything that is broken. The downside is that WD-40's penetrating abilities can be somewhat weaker than others. Stronger types of penetrating oils were produced to be used on older, more corroded objects. One common type is formed between mixing equal amounts of the solvent acetone with automatic transmission fluid. This resulting mixture is dangerous to use without protection, but it can many times more effective than WD-40. Many cheaper alternatives are available for penetrating oil, but they can prove to be more dangerous than beneficial.