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

Paint and Tape: Collection and Storage of Microtraces of Paint in Adhesive Tape
Bernhard, WR
Scientific Forensic Service, Zurich City Police,

(Received 8 November 1999; accepted 10 January 2000)

Abstract

The collection and preservation of microtrace evidence with the aid of an adhesive tape is a method of choice in forensic science. This technique is rapid and easy and allows the concentration of microtraces on a carrier, which facilitates further investigations in the laboratory. Adhesive tapes are currently used to secure microtraces of fibers and glass, but hardly for traces of automotive paint and other lacquers for fear of interference with the analysis of binders. A collection of automotive paint consisting of original and repair lacquers collected by tape has been evaluated. After various times of storage within the tape, these samples were compared with untreated references by microscope FT-IR and microspectrophotometry (MSP). Another set of paints was collected in 1984, stored within the tape until 1995, and examined the same way. About 170 layers of lacquer with various types of binder were examined. With the exception of one clear lacquer no difference between treated samples and references was detected. This small difference observed could be correlated to the exposure to xylene (extractant) and was not caused by the storage within the adhesive tape.

Keywords:
forensic science, criminalistics, adhesive tape, automotive paint, FT-IR spectroscopy, microtrace, paint, collection, storage

Paper ID: JFS14886J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14886J
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