ISSN: 0022-1198
Published Online: 27 July 2005
Page Count: 11

Evaluation of Raman Spectroscopy for the Analysis of Colored Fibers: A Collaborative Study
Rosengarten, A
Fibers & Polymers Laboratory, Israel Police National HQ,

Roux, C
Centre for Forensic Science, UTS, Sydney

Russell, C
London Laboratory, Forensic Science Service,

Jochem, G

Massonnet, G
Institut de Police Scientifique IPS,

Leijenhorst, H
Netherlands Forensic Institute,

Thomas, J
Centre for Forensic Science, UTS, Sydney

Wiggins, K
London Laboratory, Forensic Science Service,

Stauber, M
Landeskriminalamt Nordrhein-Westfalen, KTI,

Buzzini, P
Institut de Police Scientifique IPS,

Chabli, S
Laboratoire de Police Scientifique,

Coyle, T
Forensic Alliance Ltd.,

Van Zanten, Z
Netherlands Forensic Institute,

(Received 17 December 2004; accepted 19 March 2005)

Abstract

A collaborative study on Raman spectroscopy was carried out by members of the ENFSI (European Network of Forensic Science Institutes) European Fibres Group (EFG) on three dyed fibers: two red acrylics and one red wool. Raman instruments from six different manufacturers were tested as well as nine different laser wavelengths ranging from blue (λ = 458 nm) to near infrared-NIR (λ = 1064 nm). This represents the largest comparison study of Raman analytical parameters carried out on identical fiber samples. For the chosen fiber and dye samples, red lasers (λ = 633 and 685 nm) gave the poorest spectral quality whereas blue (458 nm), green (514 nm) and near infrared lasers (785, 830 and 1064 nm) provided average results. Blue (488 nm) and green lasers (532 nm) globally gave the best quality spectra. Fluorescence problems were often encountered with some of the excitation wavelengths and therefore a flexible Raman instrument equipped with different lasers can be recommended to measure forensic fiber samples. The instrument should also be equipped with a Raman microscope in order to be able to focus on a single fiber. This study shows that Raman spectroscopy usually enables the identification of the main dye present in a colored fiber; however, minor dye components are much more difficult to detect. SERRS (Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering) techniques give an improvement of the dye's spectral intensity but no spectral improvement was observed for the two red acrylic and red wool fibers tested.

Keywords:
forensic science, Raman spectroscopy, comparison study, laser wavelength, fibers, acrylic, wool, dyes, dye identification, SERRS

Paper ID: JFS2004532
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004532
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