How to stabilize a mammoth tusk?

A

Aglifter

Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
69
A friend found, what she was told, was a mammoth tusk when a road was cut into her ranch.

Any ideas on how to preserve it?
 
I suspect it may be of great value to various museum-type folks; paleontologists. I wouldn't try to do anything with it. If it's really mammoth and in decent condition, it likely is worth a bundle. Watch out for thieves...even the legal ones.
 
The anisotropic dimensional properties of ivory have been investigated under varied temperature and relative humidity conditions. Migration of moisture into and out of ivory was found to play the principal role in its expansion and contraction. To control the resultant swelling and shrinking, the use of polymer coatings and waxes to act as moisture barriers was examined. A particularly effective polyvinylidene chloride emulsion was further tested for facility of application and aesthetic appearance. The incorporation of plasticizers into ivory to reduce brittleness and thereby stress was also investigated.
https://www.iiconservation.org/node/548

A high-performance aqueous PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) emulsion that, on drying, forms a thin film characterized by high barrier to oxygen and other gases and to water vapor, together with outstanding heat- and radiofrequency-seal properties, flame retardance, and oil and chemical resistance.
http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/chemicals/en/specialty/page01.html
 
gadunz said:
The anisotropic dimensional properties of ivory have been investigated under varied temperature and relative humidity conditions. Migration of moisture into and out of ivory was found to play the principal role in its expansion and contraction. To control the resultant swelling and shrinking, the use of polymer coatings and waxes to act as moisture barriers was examined. A particularly effective polyvinylidene chloride emulsion was further tested for facility of application and aesthetic appearance. The incorporation of plasticizers into ivory to reduce brittleness and thereby stress was also investigated.
https://www.iiconservation.org/node/548

A high-performance aqueous PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride) emulsion that, on drying, forms a thin film characterized by high barrier to oxygen and other gases and to water vapor, together with outstanding heat- and radiofrequency-seal properties, flame retardance, and oil and chemical resistance.
http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/chemicals/en/specialty/page01.html
Click to expand...

Stole the words right out of my mouth. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top