Sugru
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Sugru (/ˈsuːɡruː/[1]), also known as Formerol, is a patented[2] multi-purpose, non-slumping brand of silicone rubber that resembles modeling clay.[citation needed]
Properties[edit]
Sugru is malleable when removed from its airtight, moisture-proof packaging, retains its plasticity for thirty minutes,[3] and is self-curing at room temperature in approximately 24 hours. The material adheres to aluminium, steel, copper, ceramics, glass, fabric, brass, leather, plywood, and other materials, including ABS plastics.[2]
When cured, Sugru has a 'soft touch' or slightly flexible, grippable texture similar to features commonly found in soft overmolds. It is waterproof and dishwasher-safe,[4] and the material is thermally insulating, with a service temperature range between −50 and 180 °C (223 and 453 K).[2] Sugru is not resistant to isopropyl alcohol.[5] While early versions of the product had a short shelf-life, as of 2014, it was being advertised as staying fresh for 13 months from the date it was made.[6][7] According to the product packaging, if kept in a refrigerator, the shelf-life is tripled.[citation needed]
History[edit]
The idea for Sugru was developed by Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh from Kilkenny, Ireland.[8] Ní Dhulchaointigh studied product design as a post-graduate research student at the Royal College of Art[8] where she conceived the idea for the substance in 2003 while using mixtures of standard silicone sealants and sawdust in her work.[9]
After receiving business grants,[10] Ní Dhulchaointigh worked with retired scientists from Dow Corning[11] and a silicone expert over a seven-year period[9] at the materials department at Queen Mary, University of London[9] to develop a silicone elastomer that was moldable, self-adhesive and self-curing. Her goal was to enable people "to easily and affordably repair, improve or customize things they already own".[11]
Sugru was developed by and is marketed by FormFormForm, a company in Hackney, London, with over 100,000 customers as of 2012, annual sales of US$2 million, and a staff of 30.[12]
In May 2015, the company launched a campaign to raise £1 million (US$1527777.72) on the crowdfunding site CrowdCube.[13] The company reached its £1 million funding target in just four days[14] and continued on to raise well over £3 million.[15]
The name Sugru derives from the Irish language word "súgradh" for "play".[8]
Chemical compound[edit]
The formulation of Sugru contains 30% silicone (polysiloxane) 20–50% talc, and the remaining additives including: methyltris (methylethylketoxime) silane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and dioctyltin dilaurate.[16] The company claims its formulation can be varied to offer different levels of consistency, plasticity, softness, resiliency, surface adhesion, modulus and abrasion resistance, setting time, density, and ability to float.[citation needed]
The company claims that Sugru is classified under EU Health & Safety regulations[clarification needed] as "not dangerous".[17] However, one report exists that it can cause an allergic reaction in uncured form.[18]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Sugru Q&A". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "FORMEROL F.10 / sugru Preliminary technical data sheet" (PDF). Sugru.com, October 2009.
- ^ Jason Fitzpatrick. "Sugru Moldable Silicone Is Perfect for DIY Ideas and Repairs". Lifehacker.com. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ Sorrel, Charlie (1 December 2009). "Sugru, An Amazing Silicon Modeling Clay for Makers and Hackers". Wired.
- ^ "Is sugru resistant to oil / petrol / solvents?". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ "About Sugru". Sugru.com.
- ^ "Sugru: Our story". Sugru.com.
- ^ a b c "Kilkenny woman invents best thing since blu-Tack and Sellotape". Kilkenny People. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ a b c "Wired meets the woman behind Sugru". Wired, Charlie Burton, 6 May 2010.
- ^ Una Mullally (17 January 2010). "Irish woman invents Sugru, 'the most useful item since Sellotape'". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ a b "FormFormForm gets ready to launch the next big consumer adhesive brand". Responsesource.com, 11 August 2009.
- ^ "Sugru: A gripping tale of struggle and success". CNN, Nick Glass and Tom Levitt, 26 October 2012. 25 October 2012.
- ^ "Sticky putty Sugru crowdfunds in bid to rival Sellotape and Blu-Tack worldwide". The Telegraph, Rebecca Burn-Callander, 25 May 2015. 25 May 2015.
- ^ "Sugru overfunds within its first week". CrowdCube, Becca Lewis, 5 June 2015. 5 June 2015.
- ^ "Sugru raising £1,000,000 investment on Crowdcube. Capital At Risk.". CrowdCube.
- ^ "FORMEROLsugru_MSDS_Oct09.pdf" (PDF). Sugru. December 2013. p. 1. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ^ "About". sugru.com. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ^ "Moderately severe systemic allergic reaction". GetSatisfaction. 27 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
