The inventor of the adhesive used on the Post-it Note has died at the age of 80.
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Spencer Silver was 80 and died on May 8 at his home in Minnesota, the family's obituary said.
He was working in a 3M company lab in 1968 when he discovered a unique adhesive formula, according to the firm.
The adhesive allowed notes to be easily attached to surfaces, removed and even re-posted elsewhere without leaving residue like other glues.
Silver looked for several years for a practical use for the adhesive, calling it a "solution waiting for a problem to solve".
In 1974, his colleague Art Fry came up with the idea of using the adhesive to prevent paper bookmarks from falling out of his hymnal when he sang in church.
The product was originally called the Press 'n' Peel memo pad in 1974 but it was only brought to the market in 1977 and did not really take off until 1980, when it was renamed the Post-it Note.
It is now one of the top-selling items in 3M's consumer products division.
Silver retired as a corporate scientist in 1996 and earned 37 patents during his time at 3M.
He also won several awards, including the 1998 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention, according to the company.
Silver is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linda, a daughter and two grandchildren.
Australian Associated Press