Harry Coover: The Architect of Instant Adhesion
Harry Coover (1917–2011) was an American chemist and prolific inventor whose work fundamentally altered both industrial manufacturing and emergency medicine. While his name may not be a household word, his most famous invention—cyanoacrylate, better known as Super Glue—is a staple of modern life. Beyond this "accidental" discovery, Coover was a titan of corporate research and development, holding over 460 patents and receiving the nation’s highest honors for technological innovation.
1. Biography: From Delaware to the Executive Suite
Harry Wesley Coover Jr. was born on March 6, 1917, in Newark, Delaware. His academic path was marked by a steady progression through the ranks of elite chemistry programs in the United States.
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Education
Coover earned his Bachelor of Science from Hobart College in 1939. He then moved to Cornell University, where he completed both his Master’s degree and his Ph.D. (1944) in Organic Chemistry.
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Career Trajectory
Immediately following his doctoral studies, Coover joined Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. He eventually relocated to the company’s chemical division, Eastman Chemical Company, in Kingsport, Tennessee.
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Leadership
Over a 40-year career at Eastman, Coover rose from a bench chemist to the Vice President of Research and Development. His leadership was characterized by a rare ability to bridge the gap between abstract chemical synthesis and commercially viable products.
2. Major Contributions: The Cyanoacrylate Breakthrough
Coover’s primary contribution to science was the discovery and commercialization of cyanoacrylates, a class of fast-acting adhesives. Interestingly, the discovery occurred in two distinct phases, both of which were initially viewed as failures.
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The 1942 "Failure"
During World War II, Coover led a team tasked with developing optically clear plastics for precision gun sights. They experimented with cyanoacrylates, but the material was rejected because it stuck to everything it touched, ruining the laboratory equipment.
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The 1951 Realization
Nearly a decade later, while researching heat-resistant polymers for jet canopies, Coover and his colleague Fred Joyner revisited cyanoacrylates. When Joyner spread the compound between two Abbe refractometer prisms to measure its refractive index, he found the prisms were permanently bonded.
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The Innovation
Unlike other adhesives of the era that required heat, pressure, or evaporation of a solvent, cyanoacrylates polymerized instantly upon contact with the trace amounts of moisture (hydroxyl ions) present on almost all surfaces. Coover recognized that this "nuisance" was actually a revolutionary new category of adhesive.
3. Notable Publications and Patents
As an industrial chemist, Coover’s "publications" primarily took the form of patents, which serve as the primary record of his intellectual property and methodology.
- U.S. Patent 2,768,109 (1956): "Alcohol-Catalyzed α-Cyanoacrylate Adhesive Compositions." This is the foundational patent for what would become Super Glue.
- Commercial Launch (1958): Under Coover’s direction, Eastman Kodak released the product as "Eastman 910." It was later rebranded by various companies as Super Glue, Krazy Glue, and Loctite.
- Academic Work: While he published numerous papers in journals like the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) regarding polymer chemistry and organophosphorus compounds, his most influential written legacy remains the technical documentation that allowed for the mass production of cyanoacrylates.
4. Awards & Recognition
Coover’s contributions were recognized late in his life as the full scope of his impact became clear.
- National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2010): Awarded by President Barack Obama, this is the highest honor bestowed by the United States for technological achievement.
- National Inventors Hall of Fame (2004): Coover was inducted for his discovery of cyanoacrylates.
- The Southern Chemist Award: Given by the American Chemical Society for his outstanding contributions to the field in the Southern U.S.
- Honorary Doctorate: He received an honorary Doctor of Science from his alma mater, Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
5. Impact & Legacy: Beyond the Workshop
Coover’s work had a profound impact on three major sectors:
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Industrial Manufacturing
Cyanoacrylates revolutionized assembly lines, allowing for the rapid bonding of metals, plastics, and rubber without the need for heavy clamping or curing ovens.
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Emergency Medicine
During the Vietnam War, Coover realized that cyanoacrylate could be used as a spray to stop heavy bleeding on the battlefield. This "liquid bandage" saved countless lives by sealing wounds until soldiers could reach a hospital. This eventually led to the development of Dermabond, a medical-grade cyanoacrylate used today for suture-less surgery.
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Forensics
In the late 1970s, researchers discovered that cyanoacrylate vapors react with the oils in fingerprints, making them visible on non-porous surfaces (a process known as "fuming"). This remains a standard technique in crime scene investigation globally.
6. Collaborations
- Fred Joyner: A senior research chemist at Eastman Kodak who worked directly with Coover during the 1951 experiments. Joyner is often credited as the co-discoverer of the adhesive properties of cyanoacrylate.
- Eastman Chemical Research Team: Coover presided over a massive R&D department, mentoring hundreds of chemists and fostering a culture of "serendipitous discovery"—the idea that scientists should remain alert to unexpected results rather than discarding them as errors.
7. Lesser-Known Facts
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Television Fame
To demonstrate the power of his invention, Coover appeared on the television show I’ve Got a Secret in 1959. He famously used a single drop of Eastman 910 to bond two metal cylinders together, which then lifted the host, Garry Moore, off the floor.
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The "Failed" Gun Sights
It is a common misconception that Super Glue was a military secret. In reality, the military simply didn't want it; they found it too messy and difficult to work with for gun sights.
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A Prolific Patentee
Even after his retirement in 1984, Coover continued to work as a consultant and inventor. By the time of his death, he held 460 patents, a number that puts him in the upper echelon of American inventors alongside the likes of Thomas Edison.
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Modesty
Despite the ubiquity of his invention, Coover remained relatively humble, often stating that his greatest achievement was not the glue itself, but the:
"discovery of a discovery"—the ability to see a solution where others only saw a problem.
Harry Coover passed away on March 26, 2011, at the age of 94. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation that continues to hold the modern world together—literally and figuratively.