[NHCOLL-L:5738] Re: fluid preservatives

[Couteaufin at aol.com]

Hi Carolyn,
 
I have never had firsthand experience with Novec, but it is an expensive  
fluid and has a high specific gravity so specimens float in it.  It has not  
been tested in the long term and I have a bad feeling about it.
 
Have you considered an alternative such as Dekafald (DMDM hydantoin)?   It 
acts as an ionic transfer agent using methylene bridges like formalin?  
 
It also depends on what specimens are intended for display (vertebrate,  
invert, botanical &c)?  Glycol preservatives are still good in the  short term 
(1 year or so) if the specimens have been properly fixed  beforehand.   
 
Also need to know what type of jars would be involved (glass,  plastic)?
 
With all good  wishes, Simon

Simon  Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Conservator of Natural Sciences,
20 Newbury  Street,
Whitchurch RG28 7DN. UK
T. 01256 892335
_www.natural-history-conservation.com_ 
(http://www.natural-history-conservation.co.uk/) 

_www.pocket-fruit-knives.info _ (http://www.pocket.fruit-knives.com/) 



In a message dated 29/11/2011 00:13:09 GMT Standard Time,  
crissanen at museumca.org writes:

Dear  list -
We are in the midst of a major gallery re-install, and there has  been some 
discussion about putting wet specimens out as part of one of the new  
exhibits.  The question came up about whether there was a safer  alternative to 
de-natured alcohol or formalin as a preservative - a fluid that  wouldn't be 
quite as hazardous should something happen to the jar.  Doing  a web search, 
someone came up with a 3M product: 3M Novec Engineered  Fluid.  Does anyone 
have any experience with this product?  Do you  have any advice concerning 
display of fluid preserved  specimens?

Thanks,
Carolyn

Carolyn  Rissanen
Registrar, Collections and Information  Access
Oakland Museum of California
_www.museumca.org_ (http://www.museumca.org/) 
510-318-8490





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