There are so many seemingly small yet, in today’s world, indispensible inventions that use adhesive as a main component. Take a look in your home or office, what would we do without transparent tape, sealable envelops, adhesive bandages or disposable diapers?
What’s interesting is that these inventions were created to either solve a problem or improve an existing product. For example, many years ago a young inventor found that if you soak the thick felt material used for chalk board erasers into a high solids white glue, once hardened, it can be used as pads on the bottom of furniture to protect the floor from scratches.
Sometimes, however, the invention is by sheer accident as in the case of sticky notepads. In 1970, a 3M researcher tried to create a super glue-like adhesive, but instead only developed an adhesive that would stick paper together. The invention got shelved until years later when another 3M worker was singing in a church choir and used markers to keep his place in the hymnal, but they kept falling out of the book. Remembering the sticky but peelable adhesive, he coated his markers with it and, voila, Post-It Notes® were born.
Can you think of other clever inventions that have adhesive as a main component?