In article ,
Jim Yanik wrote:
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.
I'd not go by Wikipedia,I'd go by the actual WD-40 MSDS.
if you read the MSDS -for each ingredient- listed for WD-40 on the WD-
40 MSDS(like I did),you'll see that it's mostly kerosene.
I don't see either kerosene, or Stoddard solvent, by name in the MSDS.
Rather, I see "Aliphatic hydrocarbon" (CAS #64742-47-8) as the
ingredient with the highest concentration. Commonest synonym seems to
be "Hydrotreated light petroleum distillates." Usable as fuel oil or
solvent.
If I understand correctly, all of these petroleum distillates form a
continuum - most are mixtures of hydrocarbons with differing molecular
weights. I don't think there's a sharp physical cutoff between what
constitutes a "kerosene" and a "solvent" - it's all a matter of
convention.
According to the MSDS, WD-40 is a bit more than half solvent (about an
eighth is "LVP", presumably slower to evaporate?), about a quarter
light lubricating oil, a couple of percent of the secret-sauce
surfactant that Jeff was alluding to, CO2 for pressurization, and 10%
mixed "non-hazardous ingredients."
--
Dave Platt AE6EO
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