ISSN: 0022-1198
Page Count: 14

The Classification of Photocopies by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Munson, TO
Associate professor, College of Science and Technology, St. Cloud State University, MN

(Received 24 March 1988; accepted 25 May 1988)

Abstract

Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was used to compare photocopy toner material from photocopies from 62 different (brand name or model number or both) photocopy machines. A simple sample lifter was developed for obtaining a specimen of toner from the copy free of paper fibers. Toner obtained from a single, standard typewritersized character usually provided enough organic material to give a satisfactory pyrogram. Based upon the presence or absence of peaks in the pyrograms, the toners were separated into 18 classes. Most of the toner classes fell into 2 general groups: those containing a large amount of styrene, usually with smaller amounts of butyl methacrylate or other methacrylates or acrylates, or some combination of these chemicals; and those toners consisting mainly of some type of epoxy resin.

Keywords:
questioned documents, photocopiers, chemical analysis, pyrolysis gas chromatography, mass spectrometry

Paper ID: JFS12644J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12644J
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