Thank you for your help.
The cases are extruded acrylic, but I cannot find any information on how the joins were formed. Either with a solvent cement or …. These vitrines had tight, smooth seams that were unobtrusive. Unfortunately, the vendor did not retain any specs from the manufacturer who is no longer in business. Repairs were not recommended by the vendor's current manufacturer as past attempts were reported as not lasting beyond a year or two.
I don't think the joins were made with silicone. I could be wrong, I am no expert. The material seen in the images appears to run the length of the join, and where the join has separated, in some instances but not all, presents as a flat ribbon weaving from edge to edge. Applying pressure to the separated sections to push the joins back together, the join material flexes in and stretches back out easily, does not appear to have overstretched, and does not exhibit any brittleness or tearing. My experience with using silicone has been limited to caulking repairs at home, and I cannot recollect any instances where after curing the silicone having this kind of movement. (no expert!) I have not attempted to pull any off or out, JUST in case the vendor needs….
The vitrines that are still firmly joined do not exhibit any kind of joint flex. However, even though the joins are unobtrusive, I can see what looks like tiny horizontal opaque bars alternating with slightly less opaque bars. Whether or not that was always there, I don't know, as I have never looked so closely at a vitrine seam as I have been this past week!!! My fear is that the remainder are getting ready to split open as well.
I have been checking on the HVAC system here. Institutional facilities keeps some kind of short-term building data log, but it is unclear if it will be room specific.
I have attached a few images. Split bottom seam with "ribbon", split top corner with finger for scale, opaque bars in unsplit seam, and "normal" seam.
Thank you again. We cannot afford to replace all of these at once.
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Heidi Mead
Vertebrate Fossil Preparator
William P. Wall Museum of Natural History
Georgia College
Milledgeville GA
She, Her, Hers
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-27-2022 09:35
From: Robin Bauer Kilgo
Subject: Vitrine seam failure
Hi Heidi-
Thanks for your post. I'm acting as the C2C Care Monitor and what is happening to your vitrine is pretty fascinating. Your cleaning methodology follows along the guidelines I'm aware of but I'll see about doing some extra research in that area over the next few days. Have others in the community also experienced this issue? Feel free to add to the conversation below and thanks again for posting.
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Robin Bauer Kilgo (she/her/hers)
Connecting to Collections Care Coordinator, FAIC
c2cc@culturalheritage.org
Contract Registrar/Consultant
rbkilgo@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 10-26-2022 13:18
From: Heidi Mead
Subject: Vitrine seam failure
Hello All,
I am wondering if any of you might have some insight into why our expensive vitrines might have suddenly popped open at the seams.
Our housekeeping methods for cleaning cases only involves a very lightly dampened cloth (distilled water). There is no crazing.
We do not move these pedestals, and they have been in place for close to ten years.
12 out of our 21 vitrines are exhibiting gaping at the sides, top, base, or all seams. There does not appear to be any one pattern. All cases are in the same room, some along walls, some centrally located.
The vitrines were purchased in lots from the same vendor, however the manufacturer may have differed. I cannot tell from our invoices.
We do use a data logger, however, due to an oversight, the logger has not been recording.
I am inclined to think this is due to some kind of environmental factor, like sudden temperature fluctuations. We had some sudden drops in the outside temperature. Without the data logger though....
I have spoken with the vendor from whom we purchased, and they are inquiring about how we might repair these. They did acknowledge that they no longer use the same manufacturer. This will be a huge task, and I would truly appreciate any thoughts any of you might have.
Thank you,
Heidi
Heidi F. Mead
FOSSIL PREPARATION
WILLIAM P. WALL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
BIOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GEORGIA COLLEGE
102 Herty Hall
Heidi.mead@gcsu.edu
She/Her/Hers
