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Harry CooverAmerican chemist, inventor of Superglue
Date of Birth: 06.03.1917
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Harry Coover
- Career
- The Invention of Super Glue
- Impact and Recognition
- Later Life and Legacy
Biography of Harry Coover
Harry Wesley Coover, Jr., known as Harry Coover, was an American chemist and inventor of the Super Glue Group. He was born in 1917 in Newark, Delaware, USA. Coover received his Bachelor's degree from Hobart College and later became a Master's degree holder from the renowned Cornell University.
Career
In 1944, Coover started working as a chemist at the 'Eastman Kodak' company, where he held various positions. He eventually became the Vice President in 1973 and remained in that position until 1984. Throughout his career, Coover and his team obtained 460 patents for various inventions, with the most famous being the invention of Super Glue.
The Invention of Super Glue
During World War II, Coover and his team were conducting experiments to develop transparent plastics for optical sights. In the process, they stumbled upon a highly adhesive substance called cyanoacrylate. However, it was deemed too sticky for their initial purpose and was discarded. Almost a decade later, while working on developing a heat-resistant coating for fighter jet canopies in 1951, Coover rediscovered the remarkable bonding properties of cyanoacrylate. This time, he recognized its potential and patented it as 'Super Glue.' The introduction of Super Glue in 1958 revolutionized the adhesive market.
Impact and Recognition
The properties of Super Glue fascinated the public, as demonstrated by various demonstrations, such as lifting a car using the glue and a crane. Furthermore, it was discovered that an aerosol based on this adhesive helped stop bleeding. During the Vietnam War, Coover's invention saved lives by preventing many soldiers from bleeding to death in the absence of proper medical facilities. Coover's contributions to the field of chemistry and innovation were widely recognized, earning him numerous awards and honors.
In 2010, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Barack Obama. Coover was proud of his title as "Mr. Super Glue" and also received the Southern Chemist Man of the Year Award, the Earle B. Barnes Award, the Maurice Holland Award, and a medal from the Industrial Research Institute. He was also inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame.
Later Life and Legacy
Harry Coover passed away at the age of 94 in his home in Kingsport, Tennessee, on March 26, 2011, due to heart failure. His contributions to the field of chemistry and his invention of Super Glue continue to impact various industries and everyday life. Coover's innovative spirit and dedication to scientific progress have left a lasting legacy in the world of chemistry.
