Blu Tack

History

Blu Tack was originally developed in 1969 in Leicester.

While the inventor of the commercial Bostik product is unknown, 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.

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, 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 product.

Composition

Blu Tack is described as a synthetic rubber compound without hazardous properties under normal conditions. It can be swallowed without harm 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.

Similar products

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.

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

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

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

In 2007 the artist Elizabeth Thompson created a 200 kg sculpture of a house spider using Blu Tack over a wire frame. It was exhibited at London Zoo.

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

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.

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

References

References

1. ikodesign. "Bostik Blu Tack - A re-usable adhesive".
2. Ward, James. (2015). "Adventures in Stationery". Profile Books.
3. (2024-03-20). "Bostik celebrates 50 years of Prestik".
4. (10 April 2018). "Who invented Blu Tack - one of Leicester's greatest exports". Leicestershire Live.
5. Ward, James. (2015). "Adventures in Stationery". Profile Books.
6. "Bostik - The invention of Blue Tack".
7. (4 March 2008). "Daily Express | UK News :: Blu Tack goes pink for charity". Express.co.uk.
8. "#Bluhacks".
9. "Welcome to Blu Tack.com - FAQ".
10. "Safety Data Sheet Bostik Blu Tack".
11. "PLASTI-TAK Trademark of BROOKS MANUFACTURING COMPANY Serial Number: 72198931 :: Trademarkia Trademarks".
12. "ERASING PENCIL with BLU-TACK wall putty at MIKE SIBLEY FINE ART".
13. (2011-03-11). "ZX81: Small black box of computing desire". BBC News.
14. "Sinclair ZX81 {{!}} Platform {{!}} VideoGameGeek".
15. "Spider Sculpture Largest Blu-tack Sculpture Britain – Photo éditoriale de stock – Image de stock".
16. "Largest Blu-Tack® sculpture".
17. "[Tweak] Blu-Tack and other putty-like damping materials - [English]".
18. (30 June 1995). "The Sound of Surprise (the loudspeaker/stand interface)". Stereophile.com.
19. (June 2013). "Is Blu-tack as effective at attenuating sound as over-the-counter ear plugs?". The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.
20. New Zealand Government Earthquake Commission.[https://web.archive.org/web/20201216015542/https://www.eqc.govt.nz/sites/public_files/EQC0053_QuakeSafeGuide_Singlepage_FA_0.pdf "Easy Ways to Quake Safe Your Home"] [pamphlet].
21. "Soldering Tips".