STEAM IN ACTION: DEVELOPING A NOVEL METHOD OF LABELING SILICONE MOLDS USING TATTOO EQUIPMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

Molding and casting has been one of the primary methods of three-dimensionally replicating museum objects for 50+ years. These replicas play a significant role in education, research, and display. The Madagascar Paleontology Project has used casts throughout its 30 year history to collaboratively study the fauna of the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar across multiple institutions. The majority of the original specimens are housed at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS). In 2023, DMNS began curating this cast and mold collection in advance of over half of the original specimens returning to the University of Antananarivo (UA) in Madagascar.

While casts can be curated similarly to their original counterparts, molds are challenging to label because they are typically made of room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone, which is hydrophobic and repels marker pigments. Stamping a label into the silicone before it cures has traditionally been the most legible and longest lasting option, but this method doesn’t allow for modifications after the silicone cures. Here we present methods for labeling silicone molds post-cure with tattoo equipment and archival ink.

We tested three different silicone products (Dow HS III, Silicones Inc. GI-1000, and Silicones Inc. GI-1100 with GI-2020A catalyst) and worked with a tattoo artist (LDB) to test four different round liner (RL) needle cartridge configurations. The resulting labels were legible, easily applied, and difficult to remove from all three types of silicone. While seven- and five-pointed (7RL and 5RL) needle cartridges were easiest for new tattooers to use, three-pointed (3RL) cartridges were capable of the smallest, most precise labels.

The development of this innovative methodology highlights the benefits of diversity in academic institutions, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) thinking, and collaboration between artists and scientists. Since the implementation of this method, over 600 molds have been labeled by DMNS staff and licensed tattoo artist volunteers working in concert. We recommend tattoo labels to any institution maintaining a large collection of silicone molds due to their legibility, durability, and low cost. We also recommend forging reciprocal relationships with local tattoo artists, as they can provide equipment and expertise that may be integral to project success.