Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:36:03 -0600, Jim Yanik
wrote:

Jeff Liebermann wrote in
:


Homebrew cleaners and protectors:
http://www.pitt.edu/~szekeres/cleaner.htm
The comments on the effects of silicones plus salt in WD40 are
interesting.


WD-40 is mostly kerosene.

Close. It's mostly Stoddard Solvent, also known as mineral spirits.
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/wd-40.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoddard_solvent
50% Stoddard solvent (i.e., mineral spirits: primarily hexane,
somewhat similar to kerosene)
25% Liquefied petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant; carbon
dioxide is now used instead to reduce WD-40's considerable
flammability)
15+% Mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
10-% Inert ingredients

Reverse engineering at its best:
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/17-05/st_whatsinside

USA MSDS sheet:
http://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf/msds-wd494716385.pdf

The key ingredient is a sulfactant (wetting agent), to reduce surface
tension and make it "cling" to objects and "puddle" water. My
guess(tm) the reason it took 40 trys is that they had a difficult time
finding one that would work in a solvent solution.


Good info. Darn, I liked to use the can as a flame thrower to kill pests
with the flammable propellant. Bags worms met their doom.

Greg