[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Foam cushion for comparative bone collection
Dr Jonathan Kemp
j at jk-conservation.com
Wed Jan 7 04:10:22 EST 2026
for delicate objects you can layer the Ethafoam with Dacron and then
Tyvek... https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Dacron
On 7/1/26 19:52, Dr Jonathan Kemp wrote:
>
> Plastazote and Ethafoam are both closed cell foams
>
> https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Plastazote https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Ethafoam
>
> and Tyvek as an interface is good and commonly used in museums for
> this when storing objects of many different types...
>
> best Jonathan
>
>
> On 7/1/26 19:28, Fabian Neisskenwirth wrote:
>>
>> 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
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> 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
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>>>>
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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
>>>>
>>>> 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/>
>>>>
>>>>
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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
>>>> 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
>>>
>>> --
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>>>
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>>> Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
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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
>>> Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael H. Wappelhorst
>>>
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>>> 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
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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.
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