NCJ Number
186433
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 45 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 1312-1315
Date Published
November 2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper describes a test of the effectiveness of using adhesive tape to collect and store microtraces of paint.
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, while allowing 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 not to secure traces of automotive paint and other lacquers because of fear of interference with the analysis of binders. A collection of automotive paints that consisted of original and repair lacquers collected by tape was analyzed in this study. 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. Approximately 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 due to the exposure to xylene (extractant) and was not caused by the storage within the adhesive tape. 2 figures and 7 references