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 into the Apollo 8 in 1968 and used by the Astronauts as an adhesive to secure their tools.