Scotchgard inventors in hall of fame
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 15, 2001
AKRON, Ohio — The "mother and father of Scotchgard" have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame here.
Patsy Sherman and Samuel Smith invented Scotchgard, the popular treatment to repel stains on fabrics, in 1956 while working at 3M.
Research shows that 84% of U.S. consumers recognize the name.
Sherman, 70, holds 16 patents and was a chemical researcher at 3M for 40 years before retiring in 1992.
Smith, 73, holds some 30 patents and was a research chemist with 3M for 41 years before retiring, also in 1992.
"We were trying to develop a new kind of rubber for jet aircraft fuel lines," said Sherman. "One of the lab assistants accidentally dropped a batch of synthetic latex I had made, and some splashed on her canvas tennis shoes and the result was remarkable. It couldn't be removed, proving impervious to any solvent."
Sherman and Smith began investigating the substance as a fabric protector and finally succeeded in converting the discovery into an economical form for commercial application.
They then developed a family of finishes for apparel and home furnishings.
| Sherman |
| Smith |
