pg 12/7/09

Hi again, Has any one done a recent oddy test on 2 part epoxy putty water based?  Milliput has passed our oddy test but I find it to be rather expensive for what you get.  Is there any sources for this materials besides Talas that would be less expensive. I need to make a large cradle or jacket for a 90 lb femur that is 50-60" long.  Thanks Pam Gaible

anthony 12/7/09

Could you explain the term "Oddy Test"? We use a few things for epoxy putty to stabilize fossil bone, specifically Paleo Bond Paleo-Sculp (available in a few different sizes, grey color), and in the past have also used Aves Studio Apoxie, but have stopped due to price, as well as recent research has cast doubt on their non-toxic non-harmful claims.

pg 12/7/09

Well lets see Oddy Testing is done to determine if a material will off gas adversely and harm the object it is holding or is in close proximity to. Our conservation staff usually conducts this process by putting a sample of the material in close proximity to cleaned copper, silver and lead shims. They are  exposed to a low heat for 4 weeks to simulate the ageing process of the material.  If the metal corodes or changes in any way it is a red flag so to speak to the conservator.  They in tern need to take into consideration how the material is being used and what objects will be in the same case to see if it is a going to be a problem or not.  The issue with this test is you are only seeing a result on copper, silver and lead. So its not perfect but it does give you some knowledge about how it will off gas. Paleo Bond Paleo Sculp - I have not used before Aves Apoxi Sculp - was tested about 4 yrs ago here with some reaction to both copper and lead. no reaction to silver. - At the time conservation said it should not be in contact with artifacts.  I hope that makes sense. Pam

BJ 12/8/09

Hi, With Phillyseal being no longer produced, we've been looking of a good substitute. We looked at and tested around 35 different resins and found no direct replacement for Phillyseal, but did come across a few that seem promising. All the products we tested from Aves studio passed our basic, non contact Oddy test. Their Fixit line being the hardest curing and most like Phillyseal. They also make it a past form, which is nice if you need a softer, bulked consistency epoxy. We also found a nice fast curring putty stick called PC Marine, from PC Products. These are just a few product suggestions and look promising, but anyone think of using them should test as well. I'm hoping to give a talk on the subject at the next Forum in May.

BJ Farrar Mountmaker, Antiquities Conservation Getty Museum

Shelly 12/10/09

Here's an email sent about the epoxy situation from Andre Bergeron at the CCI. This doesn't deal with the Oddy testing question, but I thought it was interesting. BJ, out of curiosity, is Quickwood one of the many products you all have tested?:

            Dear Shelly             I saw the discussion on epoxy putty (thanks to Carole Dignard from CCI) and I thought I could let you know about my experience . One product I use a lot is Gapoxio epoxy putty, specially when I need to fill voids left in marine concretions. Gapoxio is extremely hard, and will withstand hard work from a pneumatic hammer.

            I tested it in Québec outdoor conditions for three years, with temperatures ranging from -40 C to 40 C, with full sun and UV, with no apparent loss of properties. If you have this kind of resistance outdoor, it should have a very long life expectancy when used indoor.

            I use it also when I need to create light and rigid mounts like those presented in ''Mount-Making for Museum Objects'' (a CCI-CCQ publication on Mount-making). It can be tinted, drilled, pierced and reinforced with metallic bars to create very long and thin mounts.

            There will be also more examples in a publication on the conservation of archaeological ceramics I produced recently, specially on pages 63-65-116 : see the following link:

http://www.ccq.mcccf.gouv.qc.ca/publications/information.htm

            You will also find in this publication an illustration on how to produce an articulated mechanism for mount-making, in association with epoxy putty, on pages 31- 33.

            It is the second publication from the top. The text is in french, but the pictures speak for themselves.

            Another putty I use is Quickwood, more ''softer'' and easy to sculpt, to create artificial sherds like those presented on pages 109 and 130. I also tested this product outdoor for one year, with the same results.

            Hope these comments are useful

            André Bergeron,             Conservator             Atelier Archéologie et ethnologie,             Centre de conservation du Québec,             1825 Semple, Québec, (Québec)             Canada, G1N 4B7             Téléphone: (418) 643-7001, poste 243             Télécopieur: (418) 646-5419             courriel: andre.bergeron@mcccf.gouv.qc.ca             site web:http://www.ccq.mcccf.gouv.qc.ca