Spencer Silver facts for kids

Spencer Ferguson Silver III (February 6, 1941 – May 8, 2021) was an American chemist and inventor. He was known for creating a special kind of glue. This glue was later used by another inventor, Arthur Fry, to make the famous Post-it Notes.

Spencer Silver's Early Life

Spencer Silver was born in San Antonio, Texas, on February 6, 1941. His father was an accountant, and his mother was a secretary.

He loved chemistry and studied it at Arizona State University. He earned his first degree in 1962. Later, he got a higher degree in organic chemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1966. After finishing his studies, he started working as a chemist at a company called 3M.

Inventing the Post-it Note Adhesive

Spencer Silver began working at 3M in 1968. His job was to create new kinds of glues. He was trying to make a very strong glue for things like airplanes. But he didn't quite succeed in that goal.

Instead, he invented a "low-tack" adhesive. This means it was a glue that wasn't super strong. It was made of tiny sticky balls that only touched a surface in a few spots. This made the glue strong enough to hold papers together. But it was also weak enough that you could pull the papers apart without tearing them. The best part was that you could use this glue over and over again! He received a patent for this special glue in 1972.

In 1974, another scientist at 3M, Arthur Fry, heard Spencer Silver talk about his new glue. Arthur Fry had a problem: his paper bookmarks kept falling out of his church hymnal. He realized Spencer's glue could be the perfect solution!

Arthur Fry used Spencer's glue to make bookmarks that would stick but could also be removed easily. He then worked to get others at 3M interested in this idea. These sticky notes were first sold in a few cities in 1977. They were called "Post 'n Peel." By 1980, they were sold all over the United States as "Post-it Notes." Arthur Fry later got a patent for the Post-it Note itself in 1993.

Spencer Silver worked at 3M for more than 30 years. He became a very important scientist there before he retired in 1996. He is named on over 20 U.S. patents for his inventions.

Spencer Silver received many awards for his work. These include the 1998 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention. In 2011, he was added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. A book of Post-it Notes is even kept in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City!

Spencer Silver's Personal Life

In 1965, Spencer Silver married Linda Martin. She was a computer programmer. They met while he was studying for his PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder. They had two daughters together.

After he retired, Spencer Silver spent a lot of time painting. He enjoyed creating abstract art using oils and pastels.

Spencer Silver had a heart transplant in 1994. He passed away at his home in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 8, 2021, at the age of 80. He died from a heart condition.

See also

In Spanish: Spencer Silver para niños