The invention of putty came about almost by accident during an attempt to create a synthetic rubber material during rubber shortages in WWII.
The unusual physical properties of the viscoelastic liquid silicone enables the putty to form into a free flowing viscous consistency over a long time or become elastic and break over a short time. This created a substance that was easy to mould and bounce. Another unique characteristic of the properties of the putty was its adhesiveness.
This was demonstrated when it was taken in to the Apollo 8 in 1968 and used by the Astronauts as an adhesive to secure their tools.
