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Blu Tack

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Blu Tack
White Blu Tack out of the box

Blu Tack is a reusable putty-like pressure-sensitive adhesive produced by Bostik, commonly used to attach lightweight objects (such as posters or sheets of paper) to walls, doors or other dry surfaces. Traditionally blue, it is also available in other colours. Generic versions of the product are also available from other manufacturers. The spelling now used is without a hyphen.[1]

As of 2015, Bostik was manufacturing around 100 tonnes of Blu Tack weekly at its Leicester factory.[2]

History

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While the inventor of the commercial Bostik product is unknown,[3] a precursor was created around 1970 as an accidental by-product of an attempt to develop a sealant based on chalk powder, rubber and oil. Blu Tack was originally white, but following fears that children could mistake it for chewing gum, a blue colouring was added.[2]

In the United Kingdom in March 2008, 20,000 numbered packs of pink Blu Tack were made available, to help raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign,[4] with 10 pence from each pack going to the charity. The formulation was slightly altered to retain complete consistency with its blue counterpart. Since then, many coloured variations have been made, including red-and-white, yellow, and a green Halloween pack.

Composition

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Blu Tack under a scanning electron microscope

Blu Tack is described as a synthetic rubber compound without hazardous properties under normal conditions. It can be swallowed without harm[5] and is not carcinogenic. It is non-soluble and is denser than water. The material is not flammable, but emits carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide when exposed to fire or high temperatures.[6]

Similar products

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Similar products of various colours are made by many manufacturers, including Faber-Castell's "Tack-it", Henkel's "Fun-Tak", UHU's "Poster Putty" and "Sticky Tack", UFO's "Dough Tack", "Gummy Sticker" Pritt's "Sticky Stuff", Bostik's "Prestik" and Elmer's "Poster Tack". Plasti-Tak by Brooks Manufacturing Company appears to pre-date Blu Tack, with a trademark registration in 1964.[7]

Versions of the product are also sold under the generic names "adhesive putty" and "mounting putty". The generic trademark or common name for mounting putty varies by region. It is known as "Patafix" in France, Italy, Portugal, Austria and Turkey, kennaratyggjó in Iceland and lærertyggis in Norway (both meaning "teacher's chewing gum"), häftmassa ("attachment paste") or kludd in Sweden, and wondergom in South Africa (an Afrikaans word, literally translated as "wonder glue").

Alternative uses

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Like all poster putties, Blu Tack provides an alternative to the artist's traditional kneaded eraser.[8]

Blu Tack was often used with the Sinclair ZX81 microcomputer to help mitigate crashes caused by wobbly external RAM modules.[9] This was such a widespread problem that Sinclair Research's technical support department officially recommended the use of Blu Tack to resolve this issue.[10]

In 2007 the artist Elizabeth Thompson created a 200 kg (440 lb) sculpture of a house spider using Blu Tack over a wire frame. It was exhibited at London Zoo.[11]

Blu Tack can be used as a damping agent for sound and vibration applications, due to its low amplitude response properties.[12] A 2013 study concluded that the substance is a comfortable alternative to over-the-counter ear plugs for the attenuation of everyday sound.[13]

The New Zealand Government Earthquake Commission recommends that products such as Blu Tack should be used to prevent ornaments and small household items from falling or moving in the event of an earthquake.[14]

Blu Tack is sometimes used by electronic hobbyists to hold through-hole electronic components in position for soldering onto PC-boards.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ikodesign. "Bostik Blu Tack - A re-usable adhesive". www.bostik.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b Ward, James (2015). Adventures in Stationery (paperback ed.). London: Profile Books. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-84668-616-0.
  3. ^ Ward, James (2015). Adventures in Stationery (paperback ed.). London: Profile Books. pp. 213–214. ISBN 978-1-84668-616-0. (Sealant developer Alan Holloway created a similar precursor product at another company which had business links to Bostik.)
  4. ^ "Daily Express | UK News :: Blu Tack goes pink for charity". Express.co.uk. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Welcome to Blu Tack.com - FAQ". Archived from the original on 18 April 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Safety Data Sheet Bostik Blu Tack" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  7. ^ "PLASTI-TAK Trademark of BROOKS MANUFACTURING COMPANY Serial Number: 72198931 :: Trademarkia Trademarks". trademark.trademarkia.com. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  8. ^ "ERASING PENCIL with BLU-TACK wall putty at MIKE SIBLEY FINE ART". sibleyfineart.com. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  9. ^ "ZX81: Small black box of computing desire". BBC News. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Sinclair ZX81 | Platform | VideoGameGeek". videogamegeek.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Largest Blu-Tack® sculpture". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  12. ^ "The Sound of Surprise (the loudspeaker/stand interface)". Stereophile.com. 30 June 1995.
  13. ^ cambridge.org
  14. ^ New Zealand Government Earthquake Commission."Easy Ways to Quake Safe Your Home" [pamphlet].
  15. ^ "Soldering Tips". learn.pimoroni.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
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