[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Foam cushion for comparative bone collection

Tue Jan 6 15:36:37 EST 2026

I’m not advocating using spray foam in direct contact with things (it sticks like crazy) but letting it expand within bags so that (a) any offgas is contained and (b) the surface touching the specimen is that of the bag, which can be PPE or some other stable plastic. I agree, it’s probably not best for long-term storage, but on the other hand it’s cheap, stable in the short- to medium term and supportive. Incidentally, in addition to the “spray” version sold in cans with a nozzle for sealing windows, you can buy it as a two-pack product that you mix yourself.
Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
________________________________
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia
callomon at ansp.org<mailto:callomon at ansp.org> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170
President of the American Malacological Society for 2027
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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Dirk Neumann
Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 2:58 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Foam cushion for comparative bone collection

External.
Hi Paul and all,

isn't this spray foam Polyurethane foam? Polyurethane foams (at least those that I have seen in constructions) may deteriorate fast if exposed to UV - which might not be that much of a problem in a (drawer or other container in a) dark collection storage room.

With best wishes
Dirk

Am 06.01.2026 um 15:44 schrieb Callomon,Paul:
For permanent storage Ethafoam and its relatives (e. g. Sekisui Volara) are very good. However, I’ve recently seen large, fragile engine parts shipped using another method that I think might work well for very big bones, and that would be a lot cheaper: spray foam (sold in hardware stores for filling gaps around windows and doors) sprayed into plastic bags within a confining box or tray. The bags “inflate” as the foam expands, forming themselves exactly to the bones and to the box, and then setting more or less rigid. How long the foam will last is hard to say, but in construction use I have seen no softening or deterioration in 25 years.

PC

Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
________________________________
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia
callomon at ansp.org<mailto:callomon at ansp.org> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170
President of the American Malacological Society for 2027

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu><mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Fabian Neisskenwirth
Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 9:35 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Foam cushion for comparative bone collection

External.

Hi again,

Gali's email was in my spam. She already posted all you needed to know.

All the best,
Am 06.01.26 um 11:44 schrieb Gali Beiner:
Hi Amos,

If foam is what you are looking for, then preparing a suitable cutout with Palziv foam should do the trick. Palziv is the equivalent of Plastazote foam, made of polyethylene, and you can choose the hardness of the foam, as well as the thickness. I usually buy only white foam to avoid colorants. In terms of "archival" - it is a commercial product so there are colorants etc. but it is made of polyethylene so it is used by conservators.

Cheers,

Gali

On Tue, Jan 6, 2026 at 12:30 PM Amos Belmaker <belmakera at tauex.tau.ac.il<mailto:belmakera at tauex.tau.ac.il>> wrote:
Hello fellow collection managers,

We are planning to organize one cabinet dedicated to a comparative skeleton collection. Each drawer will have one element for easy comparison. We are looking for advice on foam or something like that to act as a cushion for the bones. It needs to be 'archival'.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Cheers,
Amos

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NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of

Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose

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society. See http://www.spnhc.org<http://www.spnhc.org/> for membership information.

Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
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Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose

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natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to

society. See http://www.spnhc.org<http://www.spnhc.org/> for membership information.

Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.

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Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
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