[Nhcoll-l] Putty For Sealing Jars

[Callomon,Paul]

To seal ground-glass stoppers and plate-type lids (such as Whittall-Tatum jars that lack a gasket) I use dielectric grease (Dow-Corning #4 Compound). This is a non-setting clear grease with a silicone filler that does not, as far as I have been able to tell, contaminate fluids. You can see the tech data sheet at
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/dc4.php

Be aware that if you use regular silicone caulk on older soda glass it seals very well but can be pretty difficult to release. It works best on flat flange-to-face joints, where its good gap-bridging qualities are important, but if you use it on a tapered ground-glass stopper you'll likely never be able to open it again.


Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
________________________________
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
prc44 at drexel.edu<mailto:prc44 at drexel.edu> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170



From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of James Maclaine
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 7:09 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Putty For Sealing Jars


External.
Dear all,

Happy New Year!

Hope someone can help with a large jar sealing question.  In the past we have used a kind of putty (made by Arboseal) to seal flat glass plates to the top of some of our largest jars and containers.  This was especially useful in the case of some of the older jars where the top is not completely flat and the putty could fill in the gaps.  It isn't an ideal solution (and makes opening the jar a bit of a chore) and in some cases the putty has hardened and cracked but on the whole it has fairly effectively slowed down evaporation over several decades.

However, in the cases where the old putty has to be replaced I can no longer find the same brand for sale online, so can anyone tell me where I can purchase something similar and reliable that I could use for this?  Or ideally, let me know of a better way of sealing a flat lid on an uneven jar top (please don't suggest stretching parafilm over it!).

As these are large containers for specimens that would be difficult to find alternative storage for (see attached), I'd like to keep using them if possible.  They would also be prohibitively expensive to replace.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

James



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