What Is the Origin of Scotch Tape?

Scotch tape was invented in the 1930s. Today, it's an essential part of everyday life. More than than 400 kinds of adhesive tapes are sold under the Scotch and 3M brand names. 3M, a science-based company, is involved in office products, health care, highway safety and adhesives.

Inventor

Scotch tape was invented by Richard Drew, a chemical engineer at the company 3M, who was an expert in pressure-sensitive adhesives.

Why it Was Needed

In the 1920s, food distributors loved cellophane, which was a new material at the time, because it kept moisture out of food. However, they wanted to be able to seal the cellophane.

Time Frame

Drew began working on the problem of creating an adhesive cellophane tape in the late 1920s. It took him more than a year to solve the problem. The product hit the market in 1930.

Difficulties

Some of the difficulties that Drew and his team encountered were that the cellophane curled when heated, were torn in machines, and did not hold the adhesive evenly.

Solutions

Drew and his team designed new machinery, developed a new kind of adhesive, and used primer that enabled the adhesive to be spread evenly across the cellophane.

References

• 3M: The story of 3M's indispensable invention (PDF)

Resources

• 3M: Inventions to Mention