[Nhcoll-l] PTFE tape on jars

Sat Jan 11 10:36:46 EST 2014

Thank you for the reminder Simon:

Michele Steigerwald and Sylvie Laframboise

TAPE APPLICATION: A JAR SEALING METHOD FOR REDUCING ETHANOL EVAPORATION IN
FLUID-PRESERVED COLLECTIONS

Collection Forum Fall 1996, Volume 12, Number 2

Almost 20 years ago now but since Sylvie and Michele published their work in
our Collection Forum journal it is easy for any of us to access at:
http://www.spnhc.org/media/assets/cofo_1996_V12N2.pdf

A good reminder for all of us to submit our work for publication!

Rob

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Simon Moore
Sent: January 11, 2014 5:33 AM
To: John E Simmons; Callomon,Paul
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] PTFE tape on jars

Dear All involved,

I have tried PTFE tape also and find, as John suggests, that it works well
on jars with lids that are getting past-their-best and would normally need
replacing.  However it does string together and fall apart when the jar is
opened again and the time saved in having to replace it each time might well
justify purchasing new jars anyway. 

However, I recall the Mmes Steigerwald and Laframboise tested some tape by
3M back in the 1990s that went around the outside edge of the jar seal and
was effective.  I know that this has since been superseded by something
else...?

With all good wishes, Simon. 

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
www.natural-history-conservation.com
<http://www.natural-history-conservation.com>  

----- Original Message ----- 

From: John E Simmons <mailto:simmons.johne at gmail.com>  

To: Callomon,Paul <mailto:prc44 at drexel.edu>  

Cc: NH-COLL listserv (nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu)
<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu)>  

Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 2:34 AM

Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] PTFE tape on jars

Paul,

Whether or not the Teflon (PTFE) plumber's tape helps will depend on quality
of the closures on the jars. If the closures are made of good plastic (such
as flexible polypropylene) or metal that is not oxidized, and have a good
liner (e.g., a Teflon liner or in the case of metal lids, a compressible
gasket around the inner edge) but the threads of the jar a a bit deep or the
lid fits a bit loose, the tape can help by closing the gap between the jar
and the lid. If you have a good quality lid that fits tightly on the jar,
then its probably not worthwhile to use the tape. If you have lids that have
tiny perforations (e.g., metal lids with micro-oxidation points) or plastic
that is very thin or has microscopic cracks, then the tape probably won't
help.

There is an easy way to test whether or not the tape application improves
your jar/lid combination. Fill a number of jars with storage strength
preservative fluid (no specimens!) and close some with the Teflon tape and
some without. Either mark the fluid levels on the outside of the jar with a
grease pencil, or better yet, weigh each jar. Put the jars in a water bath
and heat it to around 40-50C for a couple of weeks, then check the amount of
remaining fluid in the jars and compare.

--John

John E. Simmons
Museologica
128 E. Burnside Street
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
simmons.johne at gmail.com <mailto:simmons.johne at gmail.com> 
303-681-5708
www.museologica.com <http://www.museologica.com> 
and
Adjunct Curator of Collections
Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
and
Lecturer in Art
Juniata College
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 4:48 PM, Callomon,Paul <prc44 at drexel.edu
<mailto:prc44 at drexel.edu> > wrote:

Folks,

At least 20 years ago (before my time here), white plumbers' tape was
wrapped around the edge of the lids and onto the sides of all the bottle and
jars in a certain section of our alcohol collections. This is the PTFE tape
that plumbers use to seal threads; it is thin, soft and non-adhesive.
Presumably the idea was to provide a secondary vapor barrier in addition to
the jar lid seal. 

We are now doing long-overdue major maintenance on this collection, and are
trying to assess the efficacy of this tape. I'd be very interested to hear
from anyone who (a) has used it and can show it works (b) has used it and
can show it doesn't work, or (c) who considered using it but decided not to,
and why.

Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General
Invertebrates

  _____  

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia

1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
callomon at ansp.org <mailto:callomon at ansp.org>  Tel 215-405-5096
<tel:215-405-5096>  - Fax 215-299-1170 <tel:215-299-1170> 

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