ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 4

A Microspectrophotometric Method for Dating Ballpoint Inks—A Feasibility Study
Aginsky, VN
Senior Research Chemist, Forensic Science Center, Ministry of the Interior,

(Received 15 May 1994; accepted 19 September 1994)

Abstract

A new approach to estimate the age of ballpoint ink-written texts has been offered. It is based on using the microspectrophotometric determination of the ratios of comparatively unstable and stable dyes in the surface layer of the questioned ink and in the whole ink film by comparing reflectance values measured in natural (specular reflection) and polarized (diffuse reflection) light, respectively. The older the ink, the less the mentioned dyes' ratio in the surface layer of the ink.

Limitations of the technique and of the equipment's accessories used are discussed. Suggestions for further work are proposed.

Keywords:
questioned documents, ballpoint inks, relative aging, dyes, ratio, microspectrophotometry, reflectance, polarized light, irregular distribution of ink, distributional error

Paper ID: JFS13808J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13808J
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