Krazy Glue

This crazy invention bonded with anything it contacted. Harry Coover invented a glue while working for Eastman Kodak.

He was experimenting with various adhesives to make plastic lenses for rifle sights.

He created a substance that was impossible to work with because it stuck to everything.

It wasn't any good for making lenses but "cyanoacrylate" was an amazing glue. You could glue something instantly.

The bond was also very strong and permanent.

Other Uses

It was originally known as "Flash Glue" and then as "Eastman 910" adhesive. It was patented in 1958.

A cyanoacrylate spray was also developed and used during the Vietnam war to stop bleeding. A medical version of this spray is used in health care.

It was discovered that cyanocrylate could be used in forensics.

Fumes from the adhesive reacts with fingerprints and forms a white residue that reveals fingerprints on smooth surfaces.

These additional uses is a good example of how specific uses for an invention can be discovered after it has been patented.

Today, this popular and crazy invention is sold under the trade names "Krazy Glue" and "Super Glue".

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