[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Foam cushion for comparative bone collection
Fabian Neisskenwirth
info at naturhistorische-konservierung.de
Wed Jan 7 03:28:49 EST 2026
Dear Amos,
just to clarify: Plastozote and Ethafoam are both polyethylene foams.
Check for the density of the foam, since it can vary significantly.
And bare in mind that the foam can cause abrasion to your specimens if
they are being moved a lot. As already suggested, you can use archival
silk paper or the proposed "Tyvek" (PE textile) as a protection between
the foam and specimen.
All the best,
Am 07.01.26 um 08:06 schrieb Amos Belmaker:
> Thank you everyone for this interesting discussion, I've learned a lot.
>
> Because we want the comparison process to be quick (we get many
> requests for bone ID) I think a Plastozote "mattress" will work better
> than an Ethafoam cutout, where it is harder to take out the bones.
> This way the user can quickly pickup a bone, look at it and then try
> another. We can house them in individual compartments to minimize
> movement.
>
> Best,
> Amos
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Fox,
> Marilyn <marilyn.fox at yale.edu>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 6, 2026 11:24 PM
> *To:* Dirk Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>;
> nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Foam cushion for comparative
> bone collection
> Polyurethane foam is not considered archival. It also off-gasses
> toxic fumes as it sets. Polyethylene foam (ethafoam) is preferred for
> collections.
>
> Marilyn Fox (marilyn.fox at yale.edu)
>
> Chief Preparator (retired)
>
> Yale Peabody Museum
>
> Division of Vertebrate Paleontology
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Dirk
> Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 6, 2026 2:57:55 PM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Foam cushion for comparative
> bone collection
> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>> https://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
>> <https://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society
>> whose
>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and
>> management of
>> 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.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Gali Beiner (ACR)
>>
>> Conservator, Palaeontology Lab
>>
>> National Natural History Collections
>>
>> The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
>> Berman Building, Edmond J. Safra campus, Givat Ram
>> Jerusalem 91904, Israel
>> Fax. 972-2-6585785
>> _gali.beiner at mail.huji.ac.il <mailto:gali.beiner at mail.huji.ac.il>_
>>
>> _https://nnhc.huji.ac.il/?lang=en <https://nnhc.huji.ac.il/?lang=en>_
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>>
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>>
>> https://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l <https://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>>
>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>>
>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>>
>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>>
>> society. Seehttp://www.spnhc.org <http://www.spnhc.org/> for membership information.
>>
>> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Fabian Neisskenwirth*
>>
>> Restaurator/Präparator
>>
>> Waterfohrstr. 20
>>
>> DE-45139 Essen
>>
>> Tel: +49 (0) 1573 2778729
>>
>> www.naturhistorische-konservierung.de
>> <http://www.naturhistorische-konservierung.de/>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>> https://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l <https://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>> society. Seehttp://www.spnhc.org <http://www.spnhc.org/> for membership information.
>> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>
>
> --
>
> ******
>
> **
>
> *Dirk Neumann*
>
> Collection Manager, Hamburg
>
> Postal address:
>
> *Museum of Nature Hamburg*
> Leibniz Institute for the Analysis
>
> of Biodiversity Change
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3
>
> 20146Hamburg
> +49 40238 317 – 628
>
> _d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de <mailto:d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>_
>
> www.leibniz-lib.de
>
> --
> 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
> Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst
>
> --
> 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
> Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael H. Wappelhorst
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nhcoll-l mailing list
> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> https://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. Seehttp://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
--
*Fabian Neisskenwirth*
Restaurator/Präparator
Waterfohrstr. 20
DE-45139 Essen
Tel: +49 (0) 1573 2778729
www.naturhistorische-konservierung.de
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20260107/25012ca1/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 20241 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20260107/25012ca1/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 47337 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20260107/25012ca1/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Logo.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 47337 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20260107/25012ca1/attachment-0001.jpg>
More information about the Nhcoll-l
mailing list