Al,

I believe Rain-X is a silicon compound dissolved in alcohol.

Alistair

> From: pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
> Reply-To: pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
> Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 09:20:23 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: How wipers work / rain-X
>
> The wipers glide on a molecular film of water.  They skip when they
> encounter a surface that doesn't have this very thin film.  Rain-X IIRC is
> an alcohol based material that prevents that film from occurring and doesn't
> allow water to adhere to the glass.
>
> Wipers skip on the dry areas that the Rain-x produces.
>
> Just for fun, surreptitiously treat a friends driver side only.  His
> passengers will be terrified in the rain.
>