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Sherman, Patsy
Patsy Sherman
Scotchgard™
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Accidents have a bad name obviously. But
for Patsy O. Sherman, it was the difference between success
and failure. Sherman and colleague Samuel Smith were
employees at 3M Company when they collaborated on what
became the most famous and widely used stain repellent and
soil removal product - Scotchgard.
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What prompted this innovative product was
an accidental spill of a chemicals on a good old tennis
shoe. The shoes showed that water or other liquids ran off
the surface, providing a protective cover, just like an
umbrella!
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This accident in the lab led to the
Scotchgard family of products that repel stains and also
allow for the removal of oily stains from synthetic fabrics.
All from a slip up in the lab! This doesn't mean that every
time you spill milk at dinner a genius is born (well maybe!)
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Scotchgard™ is one of the most widely
used and valuable products in stain repellency and soil
removal, eventually bringing in over $300 million annually
for 3M.
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They later developed products designed
for clothing, household linens, upholstery, and carpeting.
Sherman and Smith jointly hold 13 patents in fluorochemical
polymers and polymerization processes.
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Patsy thinks that age is not a huge
factor in inventing. She believes it has more to do with
initiative and a willingness to embrace accidents or the
unexpected, which can often lead to breakthrough inventions.
Keep your eyes and mind open, and don't ignore something
that doesn't come out the way you expect it to. Just keep
looking at the world with inventors eyes!
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Ms. Sherman is on the board of directors
at The National Inventors Hall of Fame and a BKFK Advisory
Board.
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