Plastic Embedding: A Noble Technique for Preserving Specimens in Museum

The preservation of natural history material has never been of greater importance than at present, when the introduction of new, successful methods of preservation is changing the picture of preserving biological specimens in museums. The present study has been undertaken to see the usefulness of plastic embedding technique for preserving biological Specimens in museums. The study was conducted using various nymphs and various legs of insect for the preservation using plastic embedding technique. The specimens were dried and subjected to 10 percent acetone for the removal of natural oils. The selected specimens were cleaned and embedded within epoxy resin. The resin is allowed to set completely for 5 - 7 days and finally trimmed and polished. The results exhibited clear structural details, shrinkage, clarity and interface between the specimen and resin. Hence this technique proved to be an effective tool for the better preservation of biological specimens in the museum.