Editing Blu Tack

{{short description|Pressure-sensitive adhesive putty}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}

[[File:Actual blu tack.jpg|right|thumb|Blu&nbsp;Tack]]
[[File:Adhesive putty 1.jpg|right|thumb|White Blu&nbsp;Tack out of the box]]

'''Blu&nbsp;Tack''' is a reusable [[putty]]-like [[pressure-sensitive adhesive]] produced by [[Bostik]], commonly used to attach lightweight objects (such as posters or sheets of paper) to walls, doors or other dry surfaces. Traditionally blue, it is also available in other colours. Generic versions of the product are also available from other manufacturers. The spelling now used is without a hyphen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bostik.co.uk/diy/product/bostik/Blu-Tack/89 |title=Bostik Blu Tack - A re-usable adhesive |last=ikodesign |website=www.bostik.co.uk |language=en |access-date=17 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711102935/http://www.bostik.co.uk/diy/product/bostik/Blu-Tack/89 |archive-date=11 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of 2015, Bostik was manufacturing around 100 tonnes of Blu&nbsp;Tack weekly at its [[Leicester]] factory.<ref name="Ward213">{{Cite book |title=Adventures in Stationery |last=Ward |first=James |publisher=Profile Books |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-84668-616-0 |edition=paperback |location=London |page=213 |title-link=Adventures in Stationery}}</ref>

== History ==

While the inventor of the commercial Bostik product is unknown,<ref name="Ward213-4">{{Cite book |title=Adventures in Stationery |last=Ward |first=James |publisher=Profile Books |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-84668-616-0 |edition=paperback |location=London |pages=213–214|title-link=Adventures in Stationery }} (Sealant developer Alan Holloway created a similar precursor product at another company which had business links to Bostik.<!--Statements on the internet suggesting that he developed the Bostik product, may be the result of misquotion of his [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blu_Tack&oldid=171031892 2007 edit] to this page. The text of this edit was later removed by a different editor.-->)</ref> 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.<ref name="Ward213"/>

In the United Kingdom in March 2008, 20,000 numbered packs of pink Blu&nbsp;Tack were made available, to help raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/36960/Blu-Tack-goes-pink-for-charity |title=Daily Express &#124; UK News :: Blu&nbsp;Tack goes pink for charity |publisher=Express.co.uk |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=28 July 2009}}</ref> 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]] pack.

== Composition ==
[[File:Blu Tack under a scanning electron microscope.jpg|right|thumb|Blu&nbsp;Tack under a [[scanning electron microscope]]]]

Blu Tack is described as a synthetic rubber compound without hazardous properties under normal conditions. It can be swallowed without harm<ref name="Bostik FAQ">{{cite web |url=http://www.blutack.com/faq.htm |title=Welcome to Blu Tack.com - FAQ |access-date=14 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418062649/http://www.blutack.com/faq.htm |archive-date=18 April 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bostik.co.uk/sds/download_sds/BOSTIKBLUTACK-English/04413135.pdf |access-date=2 December 2014 |title=Safety Data Sheet Bostik Blu Tack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509082722/http://www.bostik.co.uk/sds/download_sds/BOSTIKBLUTACK-English/04413135.pdf |archive-date=9 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== 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 Products, Inc.|Elmer's]] "Poster Tack". Plasti-Tak by Brooks Manufacturing Company appears to pre-date Blu Tack, with a trademark registration in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://trademark.trademarkia.com/plastitak-72198931.html |title=PLASTI-TAK Trademark of BROOKS MANUFACTURING COMPANY Serial Number: 72198931 :: Trademarkia Trademarks |website=trademark.trademarkia.com |language=en |access-date=2 March 2019}}</ref>

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, ''{{lang|is|kennaratyggjó}}'' in Iceland and ''lærertyggis'' in Norway (both meaning "teacher's chewing gum"), ''{{lang|sv|häftmassa}}'' ("attachment paste") or ''{{lang|sv|kludd}}'' in Sweden, and ''{{lang|af|wondergom}}'' in South Africa (an [[Afrikaans]] word, literally translated as "wonder glue").

== Alternative uses ==
Like all poster putties, Blu&nbsp;Tack provides an alternative to the artist's traditional [[kneaded eraser]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sibleyfineart.com/tutorial--erasing-pencil-blu-tack.htm |title=ERASING PENCIL with BLU-TACK wall putty at MIKE SIBLEY FINE ART |website=sibleyfineart.com|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref>

Blu Tack was often used with the [[ZX81|Sinclair ZX81]] microcomputer to help mitigate crashes caused by wobbly external RAM modules.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-03-11|title=ZX81: Small black box of computing desire|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-12703674|access-date=2021-12-23}}</ref> This was such a widespread problem that Sinclair Research's technical support department officially recommended the use of Blu Tack to resolve this issue.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sinclair ZX81 {{!}} Platform {{!}} VideoGameGeek|url=https://videogamegeek.com/videogameplatform/23052/sinclair-zx81|access-date=2021-12-23|website=videogamegeek.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2007 the artist Elizabeth Thompson created a {{convert|200|kg|abbr=on}} sculpture of a house spider using Blu&nbsp;Tack over a wire frame. It was exhibited at [[London Zoo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spider Sculpture Largest Blu-tack Sculpture Britain – Photo éditoriale de stock – Image de stock |url=https://www.shutterstock.com/fr/editorial/image-editorial/spider-sculpture-largest-blu-tack-britain-designed-by-702842c |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Shutterstock Editorial |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Largest Blu-Tack® sculpture |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/118849-largest-sculpture-made-from-blu-tack%C2%AE |access-date=20 October 2021 |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref>

Blu&nbsp;Tack can be used as a [[Damping (music)|damping agent]] for sound and vibration applications, due to its low amplitude response properties.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stereophile.com/content/sound-surprise-loudspeakerstand-interface |title=The Sound of Surprise (the loudspeaker/stand interface) |work=Stereophile.com|date=30 June 1995 }}</ref> A 2013 study concluded that the substance is a comfortable alternative to over-the-counter ear plugs for the attenuation of everyday sound.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Watson |first1=G J |last2=Trainor |first2=G |last3=Camilleri |first3=A E |date=June 2013 |title=Is Blu-tack as effective at attenuating sound as over-the-counter ear plugs? |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022215113000807/type/journal_article |journal=The Journal of Laryngology & Otology |language=en |volume=127 |issue=6 |pages=574–577 |doi=10.1017/S0022215113000807 |issn=0022-2151|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

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.<ref>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]. </ref>

Blu&nbsp;Tack is sometimes used by electronic hobbyists to hold through-hole electronic components in position for soldering onto PC-boards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soldering Tips |url=https://learn.pimoroni.com/article/soldering-tips |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=learn.pimoroni.com}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Glue stick]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [https://blu-tack.co.uk/ Official Blu-Tack site, UK]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20171123134758/http://www.blutack.com/ Official Blu&nbsp;Tack site, Australia]
* Letter regarding development of a similar precursor product, from sealant developer Alan Holloway to James Ward, author of ''Adventures in Stationery'', on [[Talk:Blu Tack#New_information_on_the_Coltrane67/Alan_Holloway_Saga|discussion page]]

[[Category:Adhesives]]
[[Category:TotalEnergies]]
[[Category:Brand name materials]]