The American chemist Spencer Silver, inventor of the adhesive used in Post-its, died at the age of 80.
The international media reported this, citing the family and the 3M company.
Spencer Silver was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1941, Silver had a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Arizona State University, earning a master's degree in 1962 and a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1966, before to assume a position as chief chemist in 3M's Central Research Labs. In 1968 he developed a "low tack" adhesive, strong enough to hold the sheets together, but weak enough to allow them to peel off again without tearing. And it could be reused multiple times. This adhesive was patented in 1972. The inventor and scientist Arthur Fry thus developed bookmarks using Silver's own adhesive. The sticky notes were initially marketed under the name of Post 'n Peel in four American cities since 1977 and then as Post-it Notes since 1980 throughout the United States. The product quickly became very popular and was soon sold all over the world.
Spencer Silver worked at 3M until his retirement in 1996. He is named in over 30 patents. He has received several awards for his work, including the 1998 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention and admission to the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2011.