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Wikipedia

WD-40

January 01, 1970

This article is about the product. For its manufacturer, see WD-40 Company. For the biomolecular structure, see WD40 repeat.

WD-40 is an American brand and the trademark of a penetrating oil manufactured by the WD-40 Company based in San Diego, California.[1] Its formula was invented for the Rocket Chemical Company in 1953, before it became the WD-40 Company. WD-40 became available as a commercial product in 1961.[2] It acts as a lubricant, rust preventive, penetrant and moisture displacer. There are specialized products that perform better than WD-40 in each of these uses, but WD-40's flexibility has given it fame as a jack of all trades.[3] WD-40 stands for Water Displacement, 40th formula.

WD-40
WD-40 with Smart Straw
Product typeWater displacer
OwnerWD-40 Company
CountrySan Diego, California, United States
IntroducedSeptember 23, 1953; 70 years ago (1953-09-23)
Websitewww.wd40.com
WD-40 spray can from Germany

It is a successful product to this day, with steady growth in net income from $27 million in 2008 to $70.2 million in 2021.[4] In 2014, it was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.[5]

History edit

Sources credit different people with inventing WD-40 formula in 1953 as part of the Rocket Chemical Company (later renamed to WD-40 Company), in San Diego, California; the formula was kept as a trade secret and was never patented.[6]

According to Iris Engstrand, a historian of San Diego and California history at the University of San Diego, Iver Norman Lawson invented the formula,[7] while the WD-40 company website and other books and newspapers credit Norman B. Larsen. According to Engstrand, "(Iver Norman) Lawson was acknowledged at the time, but his name later became confused with company president Norman B. Larsen."[8][9][6] "WD-40" is abbreviated from the term "Water Displacement, 40th formula",[10] suggesting it was the result of the 40th attempt to create the product.[1] The spray, composed of various hydrocarbons, was originally designed to be used by Convair to protect the outer skin of the Atlas missile from rust and corrosion.[11][12] This outer skin also functioned as the outer wall of the missile's delicate balloon tanks. WD-40 was later found to have many household uses[1] and was made available to consumers in San Diego in 1958.[11]

In Engstrand's account, it was Iver Norman Lawson who came up with the water-displacing mixture after working at home and turned it over to the Rocket Chemical Company for the sum of $500 (equivalent to $5,700 in 2023). It was Norman Larsen, president of the company, who had the idea of packaging it in aerosol cans and marketed it in this way.[7]

It was written up as a new consumer product in 1961.[13] By 1965 it was being used by airlines including Delta and United; United, for example, was using it on fixed and movable joints of their DC-8 and Boeing 720s in maintenance and overhaul.[14] At that time, airlines were using a variant called WD-60 to clean turbines, removing light rust from control lines, and when handling or storing metal parts.[14] By 1969 WD-40 was being marketed to farmers and mechanics in England.[15] In 1973, WD-40 Company, Inc., went public with its first stock offering. Its NASDAQ stock symbol is (Nasdaq: WDFC).[16]

Formulation edit

WD-40's formula is a trade secret.[17] The original copy of the formula was moved to a secure bank vault in San Diego in 2018.[18]

To avoid disclosing its composition, the product was not patented in 1953, and the window of opportunity for patenting it has long since closed.[12]

WD-40's main ingredients as supplied in aerosol cans, according to the US Material Safety Data Sheet information,[19] and with the CAS numbers interpreted:[20]

The European formulation[21] is stated according to the REACH regulations:

  • 60–80% hydrocarbons C9 – C11 n-alkanes, iso-alkanes, cyclics <2% aromatics
  • 1–5% carbon dioxide

The Australian formulation[22] is stated:

  • 50–60% naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy
  • <25% petroleum base oils
  • <10% naphtha (petroleum), hydrodesulfurized heavy (contains: 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene, 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene, xylene, mixed isomers)
  • 2–4% carbon dioxide

In 2009, Wired published an article with the results of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry tests on WD-40, showing that the principal components were C9 to C14 alkanes and mineral oil.[23]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Q&A WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge explains company's slick success". Los Angeles Times. July 30, 2015. from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  2. ^ "WD-40 COMPANY 2020 10-K". October 21, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Davies, Adam (August 31, 2010). "The Case Against WD-40". Popular Mechanics. from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  4. ^ "Statista - WD-40 Net Income, 2008-2021". March 19, 2022. from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  5. ^ Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor (2006).These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame. Donning Co. Publishers, ISBN 978-1-57864-397-4.
  6. ^ a b Martin, Douglas (July 22, 2009). "Obituary: John Barry, Popularizer of WD-40, Dies at 84". The New York Times. from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Engstrand, Iris H.W. (Fall 2014). "WD-40: San Diego's Marketing Miracle" (PDF). The Journal of San Diego History. 60 (4): 253–270. (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  8. ^ "WD-40 History – History and Timeline". WD-40 Company. from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  9. ^ Bobby Mercer (2011). ManVentions: From Cruise Control to Cordless Drills – Inventions Men Can't Live Without. Adams Media. pp. 181–. ISBN 978-1-4405-1075-5. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "WD-40 History | Learn the Stories Behind the WD-40 Brand | WD-40". www.wd40.com. from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Our History". WD-40. from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Martin, Douglas (July 22, 2009). "John S. Barry, Main Force Behind WD-40, Dies at 84". The New York Times. from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  13. ^ Changing Times (pre-1986) 15.5 (May 1, 1961): p. 36.
  14. ^ a b "New Materials". Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology. 37 (5): 165. May 1965. doi:10.1108/eb034021.
  15. ^ "New on the Market". Farm & Country. London. January 1969. p. 72.
  16. ^ "History". WD-40. January 2017. from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "Explore myths, legends and fun facts". WD-40. 2023. from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "WD-40 Company Enlists Armoured Security to Move Top-Secret Formula". WD-40 UK. September 14, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2020.[dead link]
  19. ^ "SDSUSA" (PDF). www.wd40.com. March 5, 2019. (PDF) from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  20. ^ "ChemIDplus". chem.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  21. ^ "WD-40® Multi-Use Product". wd40.co.uk. March 7, 2017. from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  22. ^ "WD-40® Multi-Use Product" (PDF). wd40.com.au. July 5, 2018. (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  23. ^ Di Justo, Patrick (April 20, 2009). . Wired. Archived from the original on January 19, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to WD-40.
  • Official website
  • WD-40 Safety Data Sheet
  • WD-40 uses, by Snopes.com

January 01, 1970
this, article, about, product, manufacturer, company, biomolecular, structure, wd40, repeat, american, brand, trademark, penetrating, manufactured, company, based, diego, california, formula, invented, rocket, chemical, company, 1953, before, became, company, . This article is about the product For its manufacturer see WD 40 Company For the biomolecular structure see WD40 repeat WD 40 is an American brand and the trademark of a penetrating oil manufactured by the WD 40 Company based in San Diego California 1 Its formula was invented for the Rocket Chemical Company in 1953 before it became the WD 40 Company WD 40 became available as a commercial product in 1961 2 It acts as a lubricant rust preventive penetrant and moisture displacer There are specialized products that perform better than WD 40 in each of these uses but WD 40 s flexibility has given it fame as a jack of all trades 3 WD 40 stands for Water Displacement 40th formula WD 40WD 40 with Smart StrawProduct typeWater displacerOwnerWD 40 CompanyCountrySan Diego California United StatesIntroducedSeptember 23 1953 70 years ago 1953 09 23 Websitewww wbr wd40 wbr com WD 40 spray can from Germany It is a successful product to this day with steady growth in net income from 27 million in 2008 to 70 2 million in 2021 4 In 2014 it was inducted into the International Air amp Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air amp Space Museum 5 Contents 1 History 2 Formulation 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editSources credit different people with inventing WD 40 formula in 1953 as part of the Rocket Chemical Company later renamed to WD 40 Company in San Diego California the formula was kept as a trade secret and was never patented 6 According to Iris Engstrand a historian of San Diego and California history at the University of San Diego Iver Norman Lawson invented the formula 7 while the WD 40 company website and other books and newspapers credit Norman B Larsen According to Engstrand Iver Norman Lawson was acknowledged at the time but his name later became confused with company president Norman B Larsen 8 9 6 WD 40 is abbreviated from the term Water Displacement 40th formula 10 suggesting it was the result of the 40th attempt to create the product 1 The spray composed of various hydrocarbons was originally designed to be used by Convair to protect the outer skin of the Atlas missile from rust and corrosion 11 12 This outer skin also functioned as the outer wall of the missile s delicate balloon tanks WD 40 was later found to have many household uses 1 and was made available to consumers in San Diego in 1958 11 In Engstrand s account it was Iver Norman Lawson who came up with the water displacing mixture after working at home and turned it over to the Rocket Chemical Company for the sum of 500 equivalent to 5 700 in 2023 It was Norman Larsen president of the company who had the idea of packaging it in aerosol cans and marketed it in this way 7 It was written up as a new consumer product in 1961 13 By 1965 it was being used by airlines including Delta and United United for example was using it on fixed and movable joints of their DC 8 and Boeing 720s in maintenance and overhaul 14 At that time airlines were using a variant called WD 60 to clean turbines removing light rust from control lines and when handling or storing metal parts 14 By 1969 WD 40 was being marketed to farmers and mechanics in England 15 In 1973 WD 40 Company Inc went public with its first stock offering Its NASDAQ stock symbol is Nasdaq WDFC 16 Formulation editWD 40 s formula is a trade secret 17 The original copy of the formula was moved to a secure bank vault in San Diego in 2018 18 To avoid disclosing its composition the product was not patented in 1953 and the window of opportunity for patenting it has long since closed 12 WD 40 s main ingredients as supplied in aerosol cans according to the US Material Safety Data Sheet information 19 and with the CAS numbers interpreted 20 45 50 low vapor pressure aliphatic hydrocarbon isoparaffin lt 35 petroleum base oil non hazardous heavy paraffins lt 25 aliphatic hydrocarbons same CAS number as the first item but flammable 2 3 carbon dioxide propellant The European formulation 21 is stated according to the REACH regulations 60 80 hydrocarbons C9 C11 n alkanes iso alkanes cyclics lt 2 aromatics 1 5 carbon dioxide The Australian formulation 22 is stated 50 60 naphtha petroleum hydrotreated heavy lt 25 petroleum base oils lt 10 naphtha petroleum hydrodesulfurized heavy contains 1 2 4 trimethyl benzene 1 3 5 trimethyl benzene xylene mixed isomers 2 4 carbon dioxide In 2009 Wired published an article with the results of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry tests on WD 40 showing that the principal components were C9 to C14 alkanes and mineral oil 23 See also editBallistolReferences edit a b c Q amp A WD 40 CEO Garry Ridge explains company s slick success Los Angeles Times July 30 2015 Archived from the original on September 5 2015 Retrieved July 30 2015 WD 40 COMPANY 2020 10 K October 21 2020 Retrieved June 8 2021 Davies Adam August 31 2010 The Case Against WD 40 Popular Mechanics Archived from the original on June 19 2022 Retrieved June 13 2022 Statista WD 40 Net Income 2008 2021 March 19 2022 Archived from the original on March 20 2022 Retrieved March 20 2022 Sprekelmeyer Linda editor 2006 These We Honor The International Aerospace Hall of Fame Donning Co Publishers ISBN 978 1 57864 397 4 a b Martin Douglas July 22 2009 Obituary John Barry Popularizer of WD 40 Dies at 84 The New York Times Archived from the original on February 18 2019 Retrieved February 26 2017 a b Engstrand Iris H W Fall 2014 WD 40 San Diego s Marketing Miracle PDF The Journal of San Diego History 60 4 253 270 Archived PDF from the original on December 22 2015 Retrieved March 7 2017 WD 40 History History and Timeline WD 40 Company Archived from the original on February 10 2017 Retrieved April 10 2017 Bobby Mercer 2011 ManVentions From Cruise Control to Cordless Drills Inventions Men Can t Live Without Adams Media pp 181 ISBN 978 1 4405 1075 5 Retrieved June 28 2013 WD 40 History Learn the Stories Behind the WD 40 Brand WD 40 www wd40 com Archived from the original on December 9 2020 Retrieved November 7 2020 a b Our History WD 40 Archived from the original on June 23 2014 Retrieved April 20 2011 a b Martin Douglas July 22 2009 John S Barry Main Force Behind WD 40 Dies at 84 The New York Times Archived from the original on February 18 2019 Retrieved February 26 2017 Changing Times pre 1986 15 5 May 1 1961 p 36 a b New Materials Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology 37 5 165 May 1965 doi 10 1108 eb034021 New on the Market Farm amp Country London January 1969 p 72 History WD 40 January 2017 Archived from the original on February 18 2020 Retrieved February 18 2020 Explore myths legends and fun facts WD 40 2023 Archived from the original on March 16 2023 Retrieved March 16 2023 WD 40 Company Enlists Armoured Security to Move Top Secret Formula WD 40 UK September 14 2018 Retrieved December 4 2020 dead link SDSUSA PDF www wd40 com March 5 2019 Archived PDF from the original on September 11 2012 Retrieved February 17 2020 ChemIDplus chem nlm nih gov Retrieved February 17 2020 WD 40 Multi Use Product wd40 co uk March 7 2017 Archived from the original on February 18 2020 Retrieved February 17 2020 WD 40 Multi Use Product PDF wd40 com au July 5 2018 Archived PDF from the original on August 13 2021 Retrieved August 7 2020 Di Justo Patrick April 20 2009 What s Inside WD 40 Superlube s Secret Sauce Wired Archived from the original on January 19 2014 Retrieved April 24 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to WD 40 Official website WD 40 Safety Data Sheet WD 40 uses by Snopes com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WD 40 amp oldid 1219056694, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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