Do you know this magical liquid, capable of making any piece that is stuck move? But what really is WD-40? Hey Engineering Lovers, today we're going to talk about a product that almost everyone has at home, but many don't know exactly what it is or how it works, and today we're going to talk about the famous and world-renowned WD-40.
You may have already seen this meme on the internet where you only need a duct tape and WD-40 to fix anything. And basically this shows how WD-40 can be magical sometimes, but in reality, there's nothing magical about it, but come on, what is WD-40? WD-40 has a pretty interesting history.
It all started in 1953, when the Rocket Chemical Company, a small company with just three employees, was tasked with developing a compound that could prevent corrosion in rocket components. Chemist Norm Larsen led the research team and worked tirelessly to find the perfect formula. And after 39 attempts, specifically on the fortieth attempt, Larsen and his team finally created a product that met the requirements.
Taken from one of Larsen's notes, he named the test water displacement, attempt 40, and that's where the name WD-40 came from, where WD comes from water displacement or water repellent, and 40 comes from the fortieth formula tested. The first company to use WD-40 commercially was Convair, which was a company that was contracted by the United States Air Force to produce the Atlas family of aerospace rockets. The first missile was the SM-65 Atlas, which was the first ICBM in the United States, which stands for intercontinental ballistic missile.
WD-40 was able to repel moisture, prevent oxidation and even lubricate metal components, and it ended up being an ideal product for aerospace use. But the Rocket Chemical Company didn't expect the product they created to be so successful. The product that was then used in rockets began to be diverted from its function, and many company employees started using the same product to use in their cars and tools.
And it was soon noticed that the product could be used for other purposes, and it began to be sold by company employees from the trunks of their cars to hardware and sporting goods stores. In 1961, the first large-scale order of WD-40 was placed to be used to recondition vehicles and equipment damaged by the rain and flooding that occurred because of Hurricane Carla. And it was in that same year that the company decided to take on the same name as its only and main product, and Rochet Chemical Compay was renamed WD-40, and soon its product began to appear on store shelves.
But what exactly is the formula for WD-40? Well, here's a bit of a leap, because the composition of WD-40 is a closely guarded commercial secret, but we can stipulate some details about its ingredients and properties. It is a mixture of several chemical compounds, predominantly hydrocarbons.
The base of the formula includes a mineral oil and a combination of petroleum solvents that help ensure its effectiveness. This set of compounds makes it ideal for protecting and preventing oxidation of materials against humidity. And this ends up being excellent for metal parts and electrical components, which are subject to the action of oxidation.
So if you want to protect a metal part, it works, but if a part is already in the oxidation process, you can use it to prevent the process and form a protective layer over the material. But its function goes a little further than that. One of WD-40's best-known functions is its ability to lubricate moving parts.
This is possible thanks to the presence of oils and additives that reduce friction and allow the smooth movement of components such as hinges, bearings and gears. And because it has an extremely low viscosity, it can penetrate cracks and tight spaces, making it effective in loosening rusty screws and maintaining hard-to-reach parts. And lastly, it also serves as an additive degreaser, that is, it is an excellent cleaner.
It can easily remove grease, oils and even sticky materials such as adhesives from surfaces, facilitating the maintenance and cleaning of tools and equipment. I myself use WD-40 to remove stickers from cars, and even those black stains from the bodywork when I end up passing through a street that has just been paved or resurfaced. This combination of properties makes WD-40 an extremely versatile product, used in a wide range of applications, from home maintenance to industrial and automotive uses.
But where exactly can we use WD-40? Well, if you ask me, at all, and I can't live without a can of this one. As I already said, you can use it to protect surfaces, remove rust, lubricate surfaces and even remove oils and grease.
I particularly like using it on all the tools I use to protect and prevent corrosion, as well as using it as a lubricant on any hinge that has that haunted house squeak. But although it is multipurpose, it is not suitable for everything you may find. For example, it is widely used as a lubricant, but this does not mean that it is ideal for all types of lubrication.
In some cases, it is necessary to have an oil with higher viscosity to ensure better lubrication. There are people who have even said that it is good as a deodorant and even as a perfume. Well, everyone has their own taste, but I don't know where these people get these gambiarras from.
It must be the same people who put detergent on the concrete, a liter of water on the energy meter to “reduce the electricity bill” and install a hydrogen kit in a combustion car. But come on, WD-40 is a chemical and should only be used for industrial and domestic purposes as directed. Applying it to the skin can cause irritation and other health problems mainly because it contains hydrocarbons.
Therefore, it should not be used as a deodorant or in any other cosmetic application. Now if someone invented a perfume that imitates the specific smell of WD-40, then it's your taste. But has the formula remained the same since 1953 since its creation?
As we already know, the WD-40 formula is kept under lock and key, and according to the company itself, it has remained unchanged since its creation. However, the company continues to test and quality assure the product to ensure it meets modern safety and efficacy standards. They have also developed variants of the same product, which guarantee better efficiency in some specific situations, such as the WD-40 Specialist product line , which contains a water-resistant silicone lubricant and even a protective white lithium grease.
But here I have to draw attention to one point. Because WD-40 is hydrocarbon-based, it is a dangerous and flammable material. Even in some places, people use it as a torch to heat things, something that is extremely dangerous and inappropriate.
I've even seen it used to ignite diesel cars and even inflate a deflated tire. It is important to use the product in well-ventilated areas and avoid exposure to open flames or sparks. But overall, WD-40 is a very good product, versatile and has several uses, but it is not a magic solution for everything.
For example, it is not ideal for lubricating items that work with high pressure or extreme temperatures. Some people use it to clean and preserve electronic components, but it should be used sparingly, in small quantities, and especially with the equipment turned off and disconnected from the power source. It is good for protecting and preventing moisture in circuit contacts, but any capacitor that is charged and shorts out with WD-40 is certain to generate fire.
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