Elemental analysis by energy dispersive x-ray: a significant factor in the forensic analysis of glass. 1976

V Reeve, and J Mathiesen, and W Fong

Eighty-one glass samples were analyzed by EDX; two were indistinguishable. However, when the physical properties of the glass samples were considered, all glass samples were distinguishable from each other. The need to examine glass with respect not only to physical properties but also to elemental composition has been demonstrated. The authors believe that if glass is examined only by density and refractive indexes it is quite possible to conclude incorrectly that glass samples with the same physical qualities could have originated from the same source. To confirm that the glass specimens may have in fact originated from the same source their elemental compositions in addition to density and refractive indexes must be determined. The analysis by EDX of glass samples can selectively eliminate most specimens on the basis of elemental differences. If this step is performed prior to refractive index or density measurements considerable time savings can be realized in casework situations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005554 Forensic Medicine The application of medical knowledge to questions of law. Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D005898 Glass Hard, amorphous, brittle, inorganic, usually transparent, polymerous silicate of basic oxides, usually potassium or sodium. It is used in the form of hard sheets, vessels, tubing, fibers, ceramics, beads, etc.
D013057 Spectrum Analysis The measurement of the amplitude of the components of a complex waveform throughout the frequency range of the waveform. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Spectroscopy,Analysis, Spectrum,Spectrometry
D014965 X-Rays Penetrating electromagnetic radiation emitted when the inner orbital electrons of an atom are excited and release radiant energy. X-ray wavelengths range from 1 pm to 10 nm. Hard X-rays are the higher energy, shorter wavelength X-rays. Soft x-rays or Grenz rays are less energetic and longer in wavelength. The short wavelength end of the X-ray spectrum overlaps the GAMMA RAYS wavelength range. The distinction between gamma rays and X-rays is based on their radiation source. Grenz Ray,Grenz Rays,Roentgen Ray,Roentgen Rays,X Ray,X-Ray,Xray,Radiation, X,X-Radiation,Xrays,Ray, Grenz,Ray, Roentgen,Ray, X,Rays, Grenz,Rays, Roentgen,Rays, X,X Radiation,X Rays,X-Radiations

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