How can I encapsulate an insect for preservation? polyurethane?

[natureboy]

I would like to preserve some various insects in a clear
encapsulation. What could I use form a generic hardware store?

[rjb]

"natureboy" <natu...@quackquack.com> wrote in message
news:a90d838e.04061...@posting.google.com...

> I would like to preserve some various insects in a clear
> encapsulation. What could I use form a generic hardware store?

Hi,
A lot of encapsulation is done with a two-component system which is often
sold at hobby stores in the USA. It is a polyester resin to which you add a
few drops of a "catalyst" which causes the fluid to gel and harden in a
matter of minutes to hours (making the equivalent of plexiglass, poly methyl
methacrylate). I did a lot of this for a museum, and it is not trivial to
achieve perfect encapsulation. The chemistry of polymerization is heat
releasing. A dry specimen tends to warm, and the internal air expands and
bubbles. I had to hover over each specimen and try to remove each bubble
from the rapidly hardening mass. If you use a wet or alcohol-containing
specimen, then the refractive index of the polymer is altered, producing
distortion. Tricky, but doable.
Rick

[Ken Parkes]

I think the best approach is to take the insect through alcohol,
alcohol/acetone(50/50), acetone, acetone/resin(50/50 without hardener),
resin, and into resin/hardener. This method is essential if you want to
encapsulate insect larvae. Twenty-four hours or so at each stage depending on
size. Time consuming, but plan to run a group through together, they will
normally store happily in the alcohol stage until you have a collection to
make the process worthwhile. Although I have never tried
it ,it ought to be possible to do the final polymerization in the fridge
to reduce any heat damage if you are working on anything really delicate.
The resin is sold for boat and car repairs, and in hobby shops.

Ken.