Learn English – What does “wicking” mean in “aircraft quality wicking”

meaning-in-context

I read the following in an aircraft magazine where it describes a product:

XXX Product is Aircraft Quality Wicking!!

The product is a polishing product that one can use to polish something smooth and shiny. How does the meaning of wicking fit in this context? Having liquid moving from inside of an aircraft to outside doesn't sound like it.

Best Answer

I found an article, Wicking and Water Displacement by Corrosion Prevention Compounds in Simulated Aircraft Aluminum Alloy Lap Joints with the quote:

The protection of occluded regions such as aircraft lap joints by corrosion prevention compounds (CPC) requires the CPC to wick into such regions, wet the surface, and displace water that may be present. This work considers both thermodynamic (wettability) and kinetic (wicking rate) aspects of CPC behavior when applied to simulated lap joints assembled by pin-and-collar type fasteners and rivets.

So clearly wicking is in fact the wicking of liquids on aircraft surfaces via the particular surface materials or surface shapes.

Reinforcing this is ASTM International Standard Test Method for Determining Wicking of Glass Fiber Blanket Insulation (Aircraft Type):

The tendency of the insulation toward wicking can result in an increase in weight and a resultant potential degradation in the properties of the insulation.

  1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers a laboratory procedure for evaluating the tendency of, aircraft type, fibrous glass blanket insulation to wick water.

One more related reference is Wicking and Water Displacement by Corrosion Prevention Compounds in Simulated Aircraft Aluminum Alloy Lap Joints (although this has the same title as above, it appears to have a different abstract):

Corrosion prevention compounds (CPC) are relatively inexpensive, temporary corrosion control products commonly used on commercial and military aircraft. The effectiveness of CPC in suppressing attack of occluded regions within typical aircraft structures such as lap joints is uncertain, in part because their ability to wick into and displace water from occluded sites has not been quantified. This work demonstrates experimental methods that enable quantification of the wicking and water displacement capability of CPC in occluded regions, using simulated aircraft lap joints instrumented with small profile fiber optic sensors.

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