In 1953, Norm Larsen failed 39 times to prepare a rust-prevention spray for Atlas missiles and his final attempt led to WD-40

WD-40 is among the most familiar products used by millions of Americans in their garages and workshops. They have all experienced using this blue and yellow spray can in removing moisture and loosening bolts. However, the product's creation began in the middle of a Cold War problem that required many failed attempts.According to several historical accounts, WD-40's invention came after San Diego chemical engineer Norm Larsen tried to develop a mixture that would prevent corrosion and repel moisture on Atlas missile components. This task proved to be tedious and frustrating. Norm and his group tested around 39 failed formulas before they created the mixture that succeeded.It was the successful 40th formula that later became WD-40. A Cold War problem in a Californian laboratoryAs per a legal history document published through UC Berkeley Law, the product was initially developed for the U.S. Government in order to protect missile components against corrosion.The background information about WD-40 is closely linked to the era of the Cold War. Protection from moisture and corrosion was necessary since the damage of any component due to metal deterioration might affect the functioning of Atlas missiles. It seems like that was the particular challenge that Larsen wanted to solve when he founded his Rocket Chemical Company.In fact, the University of Illinois engineering history archives explain the purpose behind developing this product. They claimed that it was meant to repel water and protect missiles against rust. Nobody thought at the time that the solution would become widely known to consumers in the years to come. This origin story may be one of the reasons why it sounds unlikely to people now. It did not become a consumer item from day one. It had another intended use.Why the 40th attempt became a legendFirst of all, everybody remembers how many times the attempt was made. According to the information provided by both Berkeley Law and the University of Illinois archives, the final formula turned out to be the outcome of 39 other failures. This is reflected directly in the product's name."WD" stands for water displacement, while "40" is the number of formulas tried before success by Larsen and his team. Naming scheme makes it sound like a research notebook record.Often, historians emphasise the significance of stories of continued failure since they reflect how engineering and science actually operate in reality. Inventions are never perfect. They need testing, corrections, and modifications before becoming useful. This became the nature of WD-40. From missile defence to household toolsWhat is interesting about the story of WD-40 is that, from the very beginning, it has become obvious that its formula would be used not only for the purpose of its creation.Initially, it was needed for military purposes, but later people realised that the spray could do much more for them. The spray freed rusty bolts, prevented rusting of equipment, removed water, and even decreased friction.Slowly but steadily, the spray began to find its place in households, workshops, and manufacturing enterprises. Notably, such versatility of the product allowed WD-40 to become a well-known consumer product.Why the brand name stood outThe reason why WD-40 remains such a distinct brand name is that it reveals some of the history of the invention. Most product names are catchy and do not convey meaning. WD-40 was more literal and straightforward. This added to its uniqueness. It conveys the spirit of trial and error, reminding consumers that the effective formula was one of many attempts.The historical overview by Berkeley Law confirms this, citing the brand name and its relationship to the testing process. In many ways, the identity of the product was not only defined by its effectiveness but by its persistence.Why WD-40’s discovery remains relevant to this dayIn general, many innovations are not invented by some stroke of luck or inspiration. On the contrary, they require hard work, experimentation, and perseverance. This is precisely what happened with Norm Larsen's invention. He tried different formulas until he came up with the right one.When someone picks up this aerosol can at their workstation today, they do not know how much history is behind this ordinary item. There is an interesting story of wartime engineering, dozens of unsuccessful attempts, and finally – a formula that worked. This is why this story has remained relevant for so many years.