NCJ Number
174940
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 42 Issue: 6 Dated: November 1997 Pages: 1019-1026
Date Published
1997
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The use of x-ray fluorescence microanalysis was studied to determine if this technique would make it possible to distinguish more clearly between samples of colorless acrylic and polyester fibers that were indistinguishable using brightfield, fluorescence, and FTIR-microscopy.
Abstract
The research goal was to determine if this technique could be applied successfully 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 study also examined the extent of variation within garments and the possible effects of tape and mounting media residues on the elemental analysis. Results confirmed the great usefulness of fluorescence microscopy within the existing examination sequence. Results also revealed that single-fiber analysis using x-ray fluorescence microanalysis is not only feasible, but it also produced an improvement of approximately 50 percent in the ability to distinguish between such colorless samples. Tables, figures, and 11 references (Author abstract modified)