[Nhcoll-l] whatever happened to Nalgene PolyPaper?

Sun Aug 17 23:32:17 EDT 2014

Dear Andy

Thanks for this information.  I have heard some good things about the Datamax printers and I saw one in action at the NSMT (Japan) a couple of years ago.  My major concern is that the shiny polyester medium does not accept pencil, as you mentioned.  I have never understood why companies produce "papers" that cannot be written on with a pencil.  Perhaps that is why they do not call them "paper", but "medium" instead.  We use pencil on our field labels, which often remain with the specimen for years until they are given a formal printed registration label.

I have also tested the polyester medium for tearing.  Unfortunately, it does tear when attached using nylon clothing tags to our preserved specimens.  I would be interested to see now the matt version of the polyester medium withstands tearing.  So, could you please send me some?

Cheers

Al

From: Bentley, Andrew Charles [mailto:abentley at ku.edu]
Sent: Thursday, 14 August 2014 11:33 PM
To: Graham, Alastair (NRCA, Hobart); nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Cc: Schindel, David
Subject: RE: whatever happened to Nalgene PolyPaper?

Alistair

Here at KU we are using the thermal transfer system for printing labels for our collection.  The thermal transfer printer uses a spun bound polyester medium (called preservation tag by Alpha Systems, the company that distributes it) with a wax/resin SDR ribbon that gives great printing on labels that are virtually indestructible and long lasting.  I have attached information about the system we use.  However, the polyester medium has a shiny surface and is not good for writing on in pencil for "field" and ID labels.

Some time ago when I was investigating this system though the company sent me a matt version of the polyester medium to try.  It did not work well in the printer at all but I have a small sample roll here and have just tried it and it accepts pencil very well.  As it is made of the same material it should also stand up to alcohol and formalin very well.

I would be happy to send you a piece of this to see if it fits your needs and then we can see about finding out what it is and where to get it.  There is a label on the inside of the roll that says Datamax O'Neill 7-mil V-max (F58).

Andy

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335
Email: abentley at ku.edu<mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu<http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/>

SPNHC President
http://www.spnhc.org<http://www.spnhc.org/>

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From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Alastair.Graham at csiro.au<mailto:Alastair.Graham at csiro.au>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 12:25 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] whatever happened to Nalgene PolyPaper?

Hello all

I have been using a particular plastic paper, coated Nalgene PolyPaper Plastic Paper for about 25 years to label preserved fish specimens stored in formaldehyde and ethanol solutions.  It was sold originally by the Nalge Company in USA (cat. no. 6304-0811). This paper is spun-bonded polyethylene and is very resistant to moisture, chemicals and tearing.  It has a special coating, which means that it can be written on with a pencil, even under water.  It also can printed on using a dot-matrix printer or letterpress.  It was available in packs of 100 sheets (216 x 279 mm or 8-1/2 x 11 in.).

I have been told by Thermo Fisher (who now own Nalge) that this product has been discontinued - I do not know why.  Perhaps there was a lack of demand for it.  Besides our collection, I know other collections and fieldworkers (particularly because it is waterproof) also have used PolyPaper for many years.

There is a similar Nalgene paper (cat. no. 6304-9811) available.  However this paper is uncoated and unfortunately it does not meet all of my requirements.  Specifically it cannot be written on with a pencil.

I was wondering whether you know anything about Nalgene PolyPaper.  Perhaps you might know of a replacement paper that would meet my requirements?  Any advice you could provide would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Al

Alastair (Al) Graham
Fish Collection Manager
Australian National Fish Collection
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research

P: +61 3 6232 5351 | M: +61 (0) 419 756 411 | F: +61 3 6232 5000
alastair.graham at csiro.au<mailto:alastair.graham at csiro.au> | www.csiro.au<http://www.csiro.au/>
Address: Castray Esplanade, Hobart Tas 7000
Post: GPO Box 1538, Hobart Tas 7001

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