[Nhcoll-l] PTFE tape on jars

Sun Jan 12 17:08:21 EST 2014

I want to second Rob's reminder that we should all publish our work more
often. Well said, Rob.

In addition to the PPA tape and plumber's tape, another product that may
improve jar seals (depending on the jar and lid combination) is Teflon
(PTFE) in wide rolls. Sheets of the Teflon can be cut and stretched over
the top of the jar before the lid is applied, similar to the way you would
apply Parafilm (the PTFE is less permeable than Parafilm, and thinner). As
with the tape, however, each time the lid is removed, the Teflon sheet will
have to be replaced.

In the US, the wide Teflon is ften sold as artifact wrap. Both PPA tape and
the Teflon wrap are available from University Products:

University Products Inc.

517 Main Street

Holyoke, MA 01040

1-800-628-1912

http://www.universityproducts.com/events.php

Polypropylene Sealing Tape

Item number 854-0172, 1 inch x 72 yards

Teflon PTFE Artifact Wrap

Item 833-5100, roll 10” x 100 ft

John E. Simmons
Museologica
128 E. Burnside Street
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
simmons.johne at gmail.com
303-681-5708
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 Sat, Jan 11, 2014 at 10:36 AM, Robert Waller <rw at protectheritage.com>wrote:

> 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 <simmons.johne at gmail.com>
>
> *To:* Callomon,Paul <prc44 at drexel.edu>
>
> *Cc:* NH-COLL listserv (nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu)<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
> 303-681-5708
> 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> 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 <callomon at ansp.org> Tel 215-405-5096 <215-405-5096> -
> Fax 215-299-1170 <215-299-1170>*
>
>
>
>
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> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
>
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