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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Discrimination Of Forensic Trace Evidence Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Candice Bridge
Discrimination Of Forensic Trace Evidence Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Candice Bridge
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Elemental analysis in forensic laboratories can be tedious and many trace evidence items are not analyzed to determine their elemental composition. Presently, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) is the primary analytical tool for determining the elemental composition of trace evidence items. However, due to the time it takes to obtain the required vacuum and the limited number of samples that can be analyzed at any one time, SEM-EDS can be impractical for a high volume of evidence items. An alternative instrument that can be used for this type of analysis is laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry …
Forensic Analysis Of C-4 And Commercial Blasting Agents For Possible Discrimination, Katie Steele
Forensic Analysis Of C-4 And Commercial Blasting Agents For Possible Discrimination, Katie Steele
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The criminal use of explosives has increased in recent years. Political instability and the wide spread access to the internet, filled with "homemade recipes," are two conjectures for the increase. C-4 is a plastic bonded explosive (PBX) comprised of 91% of the high explosive RDX, 1.6% processing oils, 5.3% plasticizer, and 2.1% polyisobutylene (PIB). C-4 is most commonly used for military purposes, but also has found use in commercial industry as well. Current methods for the forensic analysis of C-4 are limited to identification of the explosive; however, recent publications have suggested the plausibility of discrimination between C-4 samples based …