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Analysis and Discrimination of Electrical Tapes: Part 1. Adhesives

NCJ Number
233659
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: 82-94
Author(s)
Andria H. Mehltretter, M.S.; Maureen J. Bradley, Ph.D.; Diana M. Wright, Ph.D.
Date Published
January 2011
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study involved the comparative analysis and discrimination of 90 electrical tape adhesives.
Abstract
The objectives included the evaluation of the ability of individual techniques to discriminate samples and the assessment of the ability of the techniques combined to distinguish samples. The techniques utilized were stereomicroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Stereomicroscopy, to assess adhesive colors of black, clear/colorless, and clear adhesives with brown tint, resulted in a discrimination of 53 percent. FTIR analysis yielded eight distinct groups with a discrimination of 67 percent. Py-GC/MS analysis resulted in 16 groups with a discrimination of 83 percent. These analyses confirmed and further subdivided the FTIR groups. SEM/EDS resulted in five separate groups at 17 percent discrimination, increasing the overall discrimination to above 85 percent. (Published Abstract) Tables, figures, and references