In association with the American Chemical Society (ACS), 3M is celebrating National Chemistry Week (NCW) and its theme of ‘Sticking with Chemistry’ by paying homage to nearly 100 years of 3M adhesive innovation.
“Adhesives are unsung heroes,” said Ann Fornof, a polymer scientist at 3M. “They are all around us and so critically important to improving everyone’s life.”
Ann has teamed up with the ACS for a panel discussion titled ‘The Importance of Adhesives’ with other industry experts. The virtual event takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m. CST. Click here to register.
3M has been a world leader in adhesives for several decades and carries more than 5,000 “sticky” products and solutions. In fact, in a recent list of the top 20 adhesives manufacturers, 3M ranks #2 among global companies according to Adhesives and Sealants Magazine.
3M entered the world of adhesives in 1925 when a young researcher named Richard Drew invented Masking Tape to help auto-body painters detail cars without damaging existing paint jobs.
Five years later, Richard invented Scotch® Brand Cellulose Tape, later renamed Cellophane Tape, and eventually earned himself a spot in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The tape became an essential product for many families during the Great Depression as a way to mend broken items.
Today, it’s estimated this product is used in roughly 90% of American households and paved the way for many well-known 3M consumer brands like Post-it®, Command™ and many more.
Less widely known are 3M’s vast assortment of industrial adhesives and sealants. Many of these products are used in the construction of buildings, airplanes, electronics, appliances and others.
Check out this video demonstrating the incredible strength of 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy Adhesive holding a 14,550-pound shipping container in the air for more than 18 hours.
3M adhesives can also be found throughout the healthcare sector with use in skin and wound care solutions, oral care products and medical devices.
“We have such an incredible toolbox of chemistry at 3M,” said Ann. “When we put our minds to it, we can create anything.”
To learn more about the science of adhesion, check out 3M’s eLearning Academy.
Happy National Chemistry Week!
