acetate peels

[ewan.fordyce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (ewan fordyce)]

Cellulose acetate has long been used for making "peels" of polished and
finely etched surfaces of carbonate rocks.  But, cellulose acetate is now
difficult (near-impossible) to get.  Other materials, e.g. mylar, have
taken the place of acetate in the commercial world.  Can anyone identify a
current manufacturer/ supplier of cellulose acetate? - and give comments on
minimum purchase amounts and prices?

Alternatively, there may be other common plastics (sensu lato) which can be
used in place of acetate.  I'd be grateful to know.  Note that the acetate
peel technique uses acetone as a solvent; it is desirable that any
alternative "new" plastic will also use a relatively benign solvent.

This is posted to paleonet and micropal.

Thanks and regards,
Ewan

R. Ewan Fordyce, Associate Professor, Department of Geology,
University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, NZ
fax 64-3-479-7527, ph. 64-3-479-7510, home ph. 64-3-473-0463