A study to investigate the feasibility of using X-ray fluorescence microanalysis to improve discrimination between colorless synthetic fibers
Cartier, J
Institut de Police Scientiflque et de Criminologie, University of Lausanne, UNIL-BCH, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Roux, C
Department of Chemistry, University of Technology Sydney, EO. Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia.

Grieve, M
Textilkunde KT 33, Forensic Science Institute, German Federal Police Office, Thaerstrasse 11, 65193 Wiesbaden, Germany.


Abstract
The use of X-ray fluorescence microanalysis was investigated to determine if it would allow further discrimination between samples of colorless acrylic and polyester fibers which were indistinguishable using brightfield, fluorescence and FTIR-microscopy. The aim was to determine if this technique could be successfully applied to single fibers of relatively fine titer and whether it would be beneficial to include it into the existing sequence of techniques used to compare colorless fibers. The extent of intra-garment variation and the possible effects of tape and mounting media residues on the elemental analysis were also investigated. The results confirmed the high value of fluorescence microscopy within the existing examination sequence and showed that single fiber analysis using X-ray fluorescence microanalysis is not only feasible, but improved the discriminating power between such colorless samples by about 50%.

Keywords:
acrylic, brightfield microscopy, colorless fibers, criminalistics, fibers, fluorescence microscopy, forensic science, fourier transform infrared microspectrometry, microscopy, polyester, synthetic fibers, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray fluorescence microanalysis

Paper ID: JFS426971019

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Author Cartier J, Roux C, Grieve M Title A study to investigate the feasibility of using X-ray fluorescence microanalysis to improve discrimination between colorless synthetic fibers Symposium , Committee on