Tracking consolidant penetration into fossil bone using neutron radiography

Abstract

In the conservation of fragile fossil bone material, impregnation by solvent-borne consolidant is often required. Understanding the mode of penetration of consolidants into fossil bone is of crucial importance. It is governed by a variety of factors; neutron imaging is a powerful tool to monitor and visualise this penetration (non-destructively). The consolidation of a vertebrate fossil from the Maastrichtian of the southeast Netherlands was imaged at the High Flux Reactor facility at Petten, the Netherlands. The analysis shows current conservation practice to result in a sufficiently deep and isotropic penetration.

Pushing the limits of neutron tomography in palaeontology: Three-dimensional modelling of in situ resin within fossil plants

“…These cracks indicate a significant risk to the integrity of the specimen if subjected to manual extraction and associated removal of the matrix. Furthermore, Schulp et al (2013) demonstrated the strong neutron attenuation response of common adhesives and consolidants applied to palaeontological samples. In the case of hydrogenous samples (like coalified plants), the attenuation contrast between these and the fossil target would likely be relatively low, thus obscuring their interfaces and may provide misleading morphological details.…”

Reconstructing the Specimens and History of Howe Quarry (Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation; Wyoming)

“…Adhesion was mostly done using Paraloid B-72 in a 50% solution with acetone (following Koob, 1986;Davidson and Alderson, 2009;Davidson and Brown, 2012; Russell and Strilisky, 2016), On large fractured surfaces, we generally first applied a weaker solution, or pure acetone or ethanol to the fractured surfaces, which would facilitate penetration of the bone by the 50% solution through capillary action. Although penetration is generally not recommended because it is not easily reversible and could potentially impact the original geochemistry of the bone (Davidson and Alderson, 2009;Schulp et al, 2013), some penetration is welcome in cases of large sauropod bones, because these glued pieces will have to bear considerable weight if they have to be handled for research or other reasons. In order to increase adhesion in these cases, we pulled apart and rejoined fragments repeatedly to more equally distribute the adhesive across the fractured surface and develop tack, following Koob (1986) and Davidson and Brown (2012), Smaller fragments with near-perfect fits were adhered with a 20% solution of Paraloid B-72 in acetone or ethanol.…”