[NHCOLL-L:3499] polyethylene foam rod advice requested

[Adrienne Raniszewski]

The USGS vertebrate collection at the Museum of Southwestern Biology  
is looking for a substitute for polyethylene (PE) caps because the  
appropriate size for our glass shell vials is unavailable. Rather  
than revert back to corks, which introduce acid into the collection,  
we are considering using polyethylene foam rods (aka backer rods) as  
plugs. They come in a variety of diameters, can be easily cut to any  
length, and are said to be inert. Have any of you used backer rods  
for this purpose? What do you think of the results? Do they stay put  
over time? Or do they eventually mold to the shape of the vial,  
becoming loose (as corks are known to do)? We can only find gray rods  
in the size we need; do they come in white? What vendors have you  
used? Any other advice you can offer would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

~ Adrienne






Adrienne Raniszewski
Scientific Aide
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ASRC
contracted to:
US Geological Survey
Museum of Southwestern Biology
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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