Water-based polyurethanes

Patricia Strong has asked if people are aware and familiar with the
water-based polyurethanes.  I cannot say that I have used the ones she
mentioned, but about two years ago I used a Carver Tripp water-based
polyurethane to coat the newly installed floor in our family room.  We
specifically avoided Minwax and other such brands because our son
has infection-induced asthma and my wife describes herself as the canary
that they send down in mine shafts.  Although the product that I used
needed more coats than the 'traditional' polyurethanes, I was able to
put on several coats in one evening while Christopher was asleep
upstairs.  He had no reaction to the solution.  We have had no problems
with the finish.  How they are from the conservation point of view I
cannot say except that they do not include formaldehyde.  Other
comments?

Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Collection Management/Preservation Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
648 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215-2070
617-267-9400
Fax: 617-421-9833

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:19
               Distributed: Wednesday, September 14, 1994
                        Message Id: cdl-8-19-009
                                  ***