Comparison of refractive index, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry for forensic characterization of sheet glass fragments

Forensic Discrimination of Sheet Glass Exposed to High Temperature by the Determination of Trace Impurities Using ICP-MS

“…A number of studies have reported that comparisons of elemental compositions are useful for the forensic discrimination of glass fragments, 5,6,8,9,12,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] and it is not pointed out again in this paper. What should be emphasized here is that a good correlation was observed in the elemental profiles between the non-heated and heated fragments in any of the 5 glasses.…”

“…It is reported that variation of RI within a pane of sheet glass is less than 0.0002. 8,10 Two pieces of glass fragments are considered to originate from different sources when they provide a larger difference in RI than this decision range of identity. The difference in RI between the heated and non-heated glasses obtained by this experiment is approximately from 6 to 7 times larger than the decision range of identity.…”

“…30 The analysis of elemental compositions has a great advantage of a higher discrimination power over the RI measurement, because a comparison of a greater number of elements results in less probability of incorrect matching. 8,9 Out of elements contained in glass, trace impurities, which are not part of quality control during the manufacturing process, are significantly useful for the discrimination of glass fragments. Simultaneous multi-element analysis and high sensitivity achieved by ICP-MS make this analytical instrument one of the most suitable methods to obtain qualitative and quantitative data for trace impurities in glass.…”

“…If tiny glass fragments found on the clothes of a suspect can be proved to originate from the broken window glass, they can be valuable physical evidence to associate the suspect with the crime. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The forensic glass comparison mentioned above has been conducted by measuring the refractive index (RI) [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and conducting an analysis of the elemental compositions using procedures such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), 6,8,12,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) 8,15,[23][24][25] and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). 5,6,9,12,18,[26][27][28][29] An RI measurement can be applied to a glass fragment smaller than 0.1 mm in a maximum width without its destruction.…”

Forensic Discrimination of Sheet Glass by a Refractive-Index Measurement and Elemental Analysis with Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

“…Improvements in quality control during the manufacturing of glass have made the variation for RI of glass smaller, resulting in a reduced discrimination capability by the comparison of RI. 11 In order to increase the evidential value of glass fragments by enhancing the discrimination capability, the analysis and comparison of elemental compositions have been investigated for the further discrimination of glass fragments using instrumental analysis, such as neutron activation analysis, 12 scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, 13 X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), [14][15][16] atomic absorption spectrometry, 15 inductively coupled plasma atomic emission, 14,17,18 and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). [19][20][21][22][23] Among these procedures, ICP-MS is considered to be the most suitable for forensic glass examination, because it can offer high sensitivity indispensable for the analysis of trace impurities, the comparison of which is effective for the discrimination of various types of evidential materials.…”