Consolidants for fossils

Colin Macgregor <colinm [at] amsg__austmus__gov__au> writes

>There is a consolidant currently on the market produced by Paleobond
>which is designed to consolidate fragile fossil specimens using
>cyanoacrylates. These polymerise in situ and avoid the problem of
>solvent based systems causing the polymer to migrate back towards
>the surface as the solvent evaporates.  Does anybody know if there
>is information available about the ageing properties of these
>cyanoacrylate products.

To date, no aging studies have been conducted on Paleobond (or any
cyanoacrylate) as it relates to fossil conservation. Still,
Paleobond, and other cyanoacrylates, are currently being used at a
number of museums and institutions. The Canadian Conservation
Institute and Dinosaur National Monument are working on a grant
proposal for a project that would address a number of conservation
questions related to cyanoacrylates. We hope to begin the testing in
2000.

Ann Elder
Museum Specialist (paleontologist)
Dinosaur National Monument
PO Box 128
Jensen, UT 84035
435-789-2115 ext.4007

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:12
                 Distributed: Wednesday, August 4, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-13-12-005
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