ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1979
Page Count: 6

Application of Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy to the Examination of Paints
Boudreau, AJ
Criminalist, Fresno County Sheriff's Department Crime Laboratory, Calif.

Cortner, GV
Criminalist, Fresno Regional Criminalistics Laboratory, Calif.

(Received 25 May 1978; accepted 3 August 1978)

Abstract

The value of paint flakes as evidence has been described throughout the forensic science literature. Experimental procedures and techniques as well as testing sequences have been reported in some detail by May and Porter [1], Crown [2], and Gothard [3]. Modern instrumental methods such as neutron activation analysis [2, 4], X-ray fluorescence [5], atomic emission spectroscopy [2, 6], pyrolysis gas chromatography [3, 7], and spectrophotometry [1, 2, 8] have been applied to effect a greater degree of discrimination. The use of solubility testing, color change with acids and bases, and thin-layer chromatography has been advocated for some time [6, 9]. The most prosaic of tests, microscopic comparison of color, layer sequence, and surface texture, has recently received attention by Gothard [3] and Fouweather et al [10].

Keywords:

Paper ID: JFS10801J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10801J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.