Hobbies And Interests
WD-40 Marketing
Officially, WD-40 was created to keep water from soaking or affecting metal parts and machinery. WD-40 is not heavy enough for effective use as a lubricant or oil. It is designed to displace grease, water and oil, and loosen dirt. As a result, WD-40 prevents corrosion on metal parts. However, since the product's creation, the WD-40 company has been marketing the product as the solution to over 2,000 common household problems.
Water and Oil
Water and oil do not mix. Water is denser than oil, and therefore oil floats on the top of water. Whether the oil is motor oil on the driveway, gasoline poured in a container of water or crude oil from a tanker in the ocean, oil floats on the top of the water. This creates the parameters for an interesting experiment with WD-40.
WD-40 as a Solvent
Although WD-40 is not a lubricant, it is a petroleum-based product, and it's thinner than heavier grease and motor oil. One of the 2,000 uses for WD-40 is as a degreaser on engines, motor exteriors and, yes, bicycle chains. WD-40 is an active product and instantly goes to work when it encounters a grimy, oily surface or substance. WD-40 actively dissolves the heavier-bodied petroleum product.
Oil Dispersement
As a result, an interesting reaction happens when WD-40 is sprayed into oil which is floating on water. The WD-40 disperses and dissolves the oil into a petroleum product that isn't water soluble, but that is repelled by the water. Thus when WD-40 is sprayed onto an oil slick floating on water's surface, the oil blobs dissolve into small droplets, making a thin rainbow-colored film across the surface of the water. The combination will collect around the rim of the glass, or the edges of the wet area of pavement. The response occurs because the WD-40 stays true to its design and is chemically repelled by the water.