The Secret Life of Sticky Notes: How Microcapsules Make Post‑it® Notes Stick (and Unstick)

Introduction

We scribble reminders, bookmark pages and brainstorm ideas on brightly coloured sticky notes without a second thought. But have you ever wondered how a Post‑it® note clings to a surface yet peels off cleanly, ready to stick again? The answer lies in a blend of polymer chemistry, surface science and serendipity. This article explores how microcapsules give these notes their magic, the physics of adhesion and cohesion, and how an accidental discovery led to a ubiquitous office tool.