I usually don’t shill specific products, but when I find something that I think is really cool, I like to share. Thanks to an article by Nic Halverson of Discovery, that something is Sugru.
Described as the love child of super glue and Play-Doh, Sugru is a multipurpose silicone rubber that self-adheres to almost all materials and can be used to quick fix anything from cracked power chords and broken tool handles to missing pot lid grips and a car’s leaky cooling system. Developed by a team of product designers and material scientists, Sugru’s patented technology is unique in its combination of hand-formability, self-adhesion and flexibility when cured. It feels like modelling clay, and it’s that easy to use too. Once cured, its durable properties mean it’s comfortable in extreme environments from the dishwasher to the ocean in Antarctica.
Out of the package, it feels like modeling clay, but once it cures at room temperature for 24 hours, Sugru hardens, yet still remains flexible. Like other silicones, it’s completely waterproof, plus it can withstand temperatures from -120 degrees Fahrenheit to 356 degrees Fahrenheit. Developed by Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh, the chewing gum like rubber maintains it’s malleability for 30 minutes after it’s removed from its airtight package before it begins self-curing. Ni Dhulchaointigh says she wants to “make it easy for anyone to adapt, modify, repair and improve their stuff to make it work better for them.”
Check out some of the highlights from their site:
sugru can be formed and shaped by hand for up to 30 minutes once it has been removed from its packaging.
sugru is designed to stick to as many other materials as possible. It forms a strong bond to aluminium, steel, ceramics, glass, wood and other materials including some plastics like perspex and ABS and rubbers like silicone and butyl rubber.
sugru is like modelling clay when you take it from its pack. Once it’s exposed to air, it cures to a tough flexible silicone overnight using the moisture in the air. Working time = 30 mins. Cure time = 24hrs (3-5 mm deep)
sugru is strong and durable. Once cured, it will also stand up to anything the weather throws at it, wet or dry, hot or cold it will be great. It also won’t fade in the sun and it’s fine with sea water too!
When sugru cures, it’s flexible rather than rigid. Which means that you can repair things that need to be able to move like textiles, cables, or shoes. It’s also electrically insulating – how awesome is that?
As sugru is a silicone rubber, it feels soft to touch when it has cured, but is also grippy. This makes it perfect for handles and grips as it is comfortable but non-slip.
sugru is resistant from -50°C to +180°C. It gets hot and cold but it won’t get softer or harder or melt.
Once it’s cured, sugru is pretty much like other silicones – so it’s completely waterproof. It’s easy to clean with soap and water, and it’s durable in the harsh conditions of your washing machine and dishwasher, and even in the sea.
Once cured, sugru can be removed* by cutting it off with a sharp knife. Remove any residue with fingernails and tissue paper.
* from non-porous materials
A STEM (Science / Technology / Engineering / Math) graduate and COO of bloomfield knoble, Thomas exemplifies the view that advertising is becoming an engineering discipline. He leads the integrated insights and strategic planning group in a way consistent with bloomfield knoble’s goal of bringing a strong analytical foundation to uncover fresh and innovative insights and business opportunities.