Blu Tack
| Industry | Adhesives |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Leicester , United Kingdom |
| Products | Blu Tack |
Blu Tack is a reusable, putty-like pressure-sensitive adhesive manufactured by Bostik, mainly designed for affixing lightweight items such as posters or paper onto walls, doors, or other dry surfaces. While traditionally produced in blue, it is also available in a variety of other colors. Numerous generic alternatives are offered by different manufacturers. The current brand name is spelled without a hyphen.
By 2015, Bostik was producing approximately 100 tonnes of Blu Tack every week at its factory located in Leicester.
History
The product known as Prestik or Blu Tack originated in 1969 in Leicester. Although the specific inventor of Bostik’s commercial version remains unidentified, an early form appeared around 1970 as an unintended result during efforts to create a sealant from chalk powder, rubber, and oil. Initially white, the compound was later dyed blue to avoid confusion with chewing gum.
In March 2008, a special edition of 20,000 numbered packs of pink Blu Tack was released in the UK to support the Breast Cancer Campaign, with 10 pence from each pack donated to the cause. The consistency of this pink variant was adjusted to match that of the original product. Since then, various color editions have been launched, such as red-and-white, yellow, and green versions for Halloween.
Composition
Blu Tack consists of a synthetic rubber material that poses no hazardous risks under normal use. It is non-toxic if ingested and does not contain carcinogenic substances. The substance is insoluble in water, has a density greater than water, and is not flammable; however, when exposed to flames or high heat, it releases carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases.
Similar products
A range of comparable products exists from various manufacturers and comes in multiple colors. These include Faber-Castell’s "Tack-it," Henkel’s "Fun-Tak," UHU’s "Poster Putty" and "Sticky Tack," UFO’s "Dough Tack," Pritt’s "Sticky Stuff," Bostik’s "Prestik," and Elmer's "Poster Tack." Notably, Brooks Manufacturing Company’s Plasti-Tak predates Blu Tack with a trademark registered in 1964.
These items are commonly marketed under terms like "adhesive putty" or "mounting putty," with localized generic names including "Patafix" in parts of Europe, kennaratyggjó in Iceland, lærertyggis in Norway, häftmassa or kludd in Sweden, and wondergom in South Africa.
Alternative uses
In addition to its main purpose, Blu Tack can substitute for traditional kneaded erasers used by artists. Sinclair Research notably recommended it to stabilize external RAM modules on the Sinclair ZX81 microcomputer to improve hardware reliability.
In 2007, artist Elizabeth Thompson crafted a sculpture weighing 200 kg entirely from Blu Tack which was displayed at London Zoo. The material also acts as an effective damping agent for sound and vibrations due to its low amplitude response characteristics. Research indicates it may serve as a comfortable alternative to commercial earplugs for everyday noise reduction.
The New Zealand Government Earthquake Commission suggests using Blu Tack to secure household objects during seismic events. Furthermore, electronics enthusiasts often employ it to hold components steady while soldering on printed circuit boards.