Problems of Forensic Sciences 1998 Vol. 37 (XXXVII) 68-89
DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN VARIOUS TYPES OF GLASS USING SEM-EDX ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS. A PRELIMINARY STUDY
Zuzanna BROŻEK-MUCHA1, Grzegorz ZADORA2
1Institute of Forensic Research, Cracow
2Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
Streszczenie
Quantitative elemental analysis using the SEM-EDX method was carried out on 55 glass samples of the following types: container, sheet, car windshields and car bulbs. From the obtained results, using a non-statistical approach, a classification scheme into five groups of glass was worked out on the basis of concentrations of iron, chromium, sodium and magnesium. The results were also examined from the point of view of the possibility of using them as independent variables in a multivariate analysis of variance. The application of Tukey's method of statistical analysis of mean values grouping enabled us to establish that, when creating more advanced glass classification schemes, not only should concentrations of elements revealed by the non-statistical approach be taken into account (as criteria of division), but also concentrations of copper, sulphur and calcium. Quantitative elemental analysis using the SEM-EDX method and statistical analysis of the achieved results can be used in the classification of glass for forensic purposes.
Słowa kluczowe
Glass classification; Glass differentiation; SEM-EDX.