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Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

  • 1.  Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-14-2025 18:01

    Hello everyone, 

    We have recently hired a safety specialist at the museum and we realized that the way the collections staff are labeling bottles of chemical mixtures is not up to code. At the museum we make a mixture of Paraloid B72 and Acetone to label objects. We put the mixture into tiny nail polish bottles for easy application. The nail polish bottles with the mixture in it are not labeled. 

    Does anyone have protocols for making their label mixtures? Do you have specific labeled containers? Does it depend on the acetone to B72 ratio? Do you have any suggestions on how we could be doing this process better that lessens the safety hazard? 

    I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. 

    Thanks!



    ------------------------------
    Nikki Gough
    Collections Manager
    High Desert Museum
    Bend, OR
    United States
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-15-2025 07:46
    I would keep the label « B72 in acetone ». Maybe date of when it was made and initials or last name of person making it. 
    The truth is the acetone evaporates and so the ratio changes. Maybe you add acetone when it gets thick. 
    Whats important is the identity of what is in the bottle. The ratio for safety issues is less important. 

    Martha

    Martha Singer

    Material Whisperer/Art Conservation Services

    http://www.materialwhisperer.com

    martha@materialwhisperer.com

    Tel: 973.943.9224






  • 3.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:33

    Hi Martha, 

    Thank you, this is very helpful!



    ------------------------------
    Nikki Gough
    Collections Manager
    High Desert Museum
    Bend
    United States
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:33

    The question and answer made me wonder what you use the acetone mixture for?  Sounds like you put it in the labels?

    Thank you!⁷



    ------------------------------
    Kimberly Bosse
    Chairman of the Board
    City of Crouch
    Garden Valley
    United States
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-17-2025 07:37

    We label our bottles with a flammable sticker.

    We use a 20% weight/volume solution for mixing the Paraloid B72 for marking numbers on objects.  Stephen Koob's method is the easiest for dissolvijng Paraloid B72 in acetone - put the beads in a net bag and suspend it with thread in the container of acetone. If you're not in a hurry just pouring the beads into the container of acetone and then gently agitating it over a few days results in full solution. Hope this helps

    Helena

     



    ------------------------------
    Helena Jaeschke, ACR FIIC
    Conservation Development Officer
    Museum Development South SWest
    Taunton UK
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:33

    Hi Everyone,

     

    We do not have a fume hood, so I would rather not use solvents without one.

     

    A conservator suggested to me that we use an acrylic-based medium for top and bottom coats when physically numbering objects.  Rhoplex WS24, which uses water for the solvent, was recommended and we have been using this for years as the top and bottom coat for numbering.  We print our numbers by the sheet on acid-free 8-1/2" x 11" paper on a laser printer.  I was told that laser printer ink is more stable than ink jet ink.  The brush can be rinsed in water.  And no smells.

     

    The number can be removed with water on a swab.  It takes a bit of careful rubbing to bread it down.

     

    Does anyone know any issues with how we are doing this?

     

    Thank you for any feedback.

    Maureen

     

     

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    Maureen Harper (she/her/hers)

    Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

    Collections Manager


    Phone (781) 457-4112

    Web www.SRMML.org

    33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02421
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  • 7.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:34

    Hi Helena,

    Thank you for the response, that is very helpful!



    ------------------------------
    Nikki Gough
    Collections Manager
    High Desert Museum
    Bend
    United States
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:34
    Hello Nikki,

    An NFPA or "safety diamond" are the most common labels but ask your safety specialist if they meet the compliancy standard for your municipality or state. The "safety diamonds" are the squarish diamonds that are divided into quadrants of different colors: blue (health hazard), red (flammability), yellow (instability/will it explode) and white (special hazards).  You can get the numbering for each of the squares from the acetone data sheet which is downloadable from the manufacturer's website.

    Any solution you create should also be clearly labeled with the components and the date. 

    Thanks,
    Rachel Freeman
    Conservator, Paper and Asian Art
    The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
    Kansas City, MO





  • 9.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 13:08

    Hi Rachel, 

    Thank you, I will look into the safety diamonds!



    ------------------------------
    Nikki Gough
    Collections Manager
    High Desert Museum
    Bend
    United States
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:34

    Hi Nikki,

     

    Labelling your chemicals is important for you and the emergency services who might encounter them. Today we use the Globally Harmonized Standards for labelling chemicals. To label any chemical bottle, you just look up its Safety Data Sheet https://www.fishersci.com/content/dam/fishersci/en_US/documents/programs/education/regulatory-documents/sds/chemicals/chemicals-a/S25120.pdf they are easy to find online. I know there is a lot of information on there, but you can scroll down to the pictograms and that will tell you what you need to know. In this case, the chemical is flammable and an irritant. You can buy bottle stickers with preprinted information on them, specifically for acetone, or for any chemical (it has check boxes for what applies and a place to write the chemical name).

     

    https://www.mysafetylabels.com/acetone-labels?srsltid=AfmBOopWZbJjkQ2F92ik3nf8w-tCXLxgBUQZ1v5LvCfiE1CCZYQHTUo8

     

    https://www.mysafetylabels.com/ghs-chemical-secondary-label/sku-lb-2915?engine=googlebase&keyword=&skuid=LB-2915-SH-SL-2.75x4&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzKat5q7NiwMVgGFHAR3LMx1NEAYYBCABEgKMgPD_BwE

     

    At the very least, in my lab, write the name of the chemical, the concentration, anything it is mixed with, the name of the person who prepared the bottle, and the date it was prepared.

     

    If anyone needs professional heath and safety advice from conservators and industrial hygienists who work with museums, the AIC Health and Safety Network is there for you. Anyone can join for free. You do not need to be an AIC member.

     

    https://www.culturalheritage.org/membership/groups-and-networks/health-safety-network/health-safety-resources/h-sn-forum

     

    I am sure there are people who know more about this than I do, but this is a good start. You should also keep a safety data sheet for each chemical and an inventory, which is easy if all you are using is acetone!

     

    Good luck and you are more than welcome to reach out to me if you have any more questions.

     

    Kate

     

     

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    Katherine Ridgway

    State Archaeological Conservator

    Department of Historic Resources

     

    Email  katherine.ridgway@dhr.virginia.gov

    Phone  804-482-6442

    Title: line art

     

    2801 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA 23221

    www.dhr.virginia.gov

     

     






  • 11.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 13:08

    Hi Katherine, 

    Thank you so much, these resources are extremely helpful! 



    ------------------------------
    Nikki Gough
    Collections Manager
    High Desert Museum
    Bend
    United States
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:34

     Hi Nikki,           
     
    Thanks for reaching out to C2C Care! I would recommend a combination of Martha and Helena's responses. The nail polish bottles should be labeled "B72 in Acetone" with a date, and a small flammable sticker. They do sell small ones in sheets, I found these that might fit a nail polish bottle: Brady Flammable Labels

    I'd also recommend the method for mixing B72 Helena mentioned, it makes the beads go into solution so much easier. Here is the article Helena mentioned if you'd like to read for yourself: Preparing and Using Paraloid B-72 Mixtures

    All the best, 

    Liz



    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Peirce
    C2C Care Monitor 2/3-2/16/2025
    Conservator (Objects)
    Library of Congress
    Washington DC
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  • 13.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 13:08

    Hi Elizabeth, 

    Thank you for the resources, I appreciate it! 



    ------------------------------
    Nikki Gough
    Collections Manager
    High Desert Museum
    Bend
    United States
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 10:57

    Hi Nikki,

    This is what OSHA says they require:

    Labels for a hazardous chemical must contain: •    

    Name,    Address    and    Telephone    Number    •    

    Product    Identifier •    

    Signal    Word •    

    Hazard    Statement(s) •    

    Precautionary    Statement(s) •  

    Pictogram(s)

    Given that you are using nail polish bottles, Martha Singer's advice is sound: identify the contents using words not symbols; add a date you made the mixture (helps you figure out later how old it is and if you want to use it!); add initials of the person who made it; if you have one of those diamond stickers, you could add in the numbers for acetone (blue/health - 2; red/flammability - 3; yellow/physical hazard - 0); if not, writing "flammable" on the container would be very useful. I would say those are the most critical. Good luck,
    Catherine



    ------------------------------
    Catherine H. Stephens, Ph.D.
    Sally and Michael Gordon Conservation Scientist
    Museum of Modern Art
    New York, NY USA
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  • 15.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 02-18-2025 13:08

    Hi Catherine, 

    Thank you for the help! I definitely have a good amount of recourses to start labeling bottles!



    ------------------------------
    Nikki Gough
    Collections Manager
    High Desert Museum
    Bend
    United States
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: Labeling Objects with Paraloid B72 and Acetone Mixture

    Posted 09-11-2025 17:39

    To all,

     

    If you received a email from me titled Frazier History Museum with a PDF attachment, please delete it. I was hacked. Our IT Department has fixed the problem on our end. If you did open the attachment and follow the instructions you might want to reset your password or contact your IT department. I am very sorry for the inconvenience.

     

    Best

    Tish

     

     

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    Tish Boyer (She/her/hers)

    Registrar & Manager of Collections Engagement at frazier history museum

    Phone 502.753.5671

    Web fraziermuseum.org | Email tboyer@fraziermuseum.org

    829 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202