[Nhcoll-l] paraloid question (was Re: Stabilizing cannel coal)

[Douglas Yanega]

On 6/18/24 1:59 PM, Anderson, Gretchen wrote:
> I would like to suggest a different way to do this, perhaps using a 
> material like remay or a light carbon steel fabric with Paraloid B-72, 
> lining the back of the fossil to provide improved stability.

This prompts me to ask a question: I've never used Paraloid B-72 before, 
but a colleague strongly suggested that we switch to using it as an 
adhesive for point-mounting insect specimens, and that it is well-known 
to the general museum community, even if not well-known among entomologists.

The little bit of research I did online suggests that it comes in 
different forms, and is used in different ways, which makes it somewhat 
unclear how best to approach it for our needs. If being used as an 
adhesive, is it preferred to buy the solid form and dissolve small 
quantities in ethanol? If so, does the concentration of the ethanol 
matter? We have 95% ethanol we use as a preservative, it would certainly 
simplify things if we could use that without having to dilute it.

Recommendations for suppliers might also be helpful, given how many 
sources seem to offer it for sale. We'd prefer to work with a vendor 
with a positive reputation and fair pricing.

Thanks in advance,

-- 

Doug Yanega      Dept. of Entomology       Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314     skype: dyanega
FaceBook: Doug Yanega (disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
              https://faculty.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html
   "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
         is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82
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