for big things...
Type 1 fluids - glycol based no thickener, normally diluted with 50% water and heated....relatively short holdover times (until you have to do it again)
Type 2 / 4 - glycol and water with a thickening agent.
These fluids possess a property that causes them to flow off the surfaces as shear force increases with aircraft speed
i.e. they protect you on the ground but should flow off during the takeoff run to give a clean wing when airborne.
CAA have recently published an AIC about anti-icing / de-icing, AIC 105/2003 (Pink 61) 11 December
