Forensics micro xrf linked in

USING MICRO-XRF to GATHER
FORENSIC DATA FOR EVIDENCE FILES
THE FORENSIC FILES
XRF Sales and Consulting – XRFSCO.com 1

FORENSIC APPLICATIONS
• Gun Shot Residue / Explosives
• Paint Chips
• Glass Fragments
• Latent Fingerprints
• Crime Scene Soils/ Foliage /Contaminants
• Footwear – Rubber, Soil Matching
• Fibres – fabric matching
• Fake Jewelry / Gold /Currency
• And many more…

What you need to analyze for those applications
• Versatile sample handling – small and large samples
• Broad elemental coverage with good sensitivity
• Ability to measure trace elements
• Good detection system for fast data collection
• Non Destructive testing for preservation of evidence.
• Powerful software to elucidate the data collection and
to help with producing court room class evidence
based on good science

Ideal solution for Forensic Analysis
INTRODUCING THE MICRO-XRF

But we use a SEM for these applications..
What you see
on the SEM
What you see on
the Micro-XRF

What puts Micro-XRF in a class of its own
Use of Poly-capillary XRF Beam
improves sensitivity a 1000 fold

Compared to SEM (white trace)
Large area Detector 80mm2 -
Improved resolution and higher
count rates – better lower limits
of detection – faster mapping
L

Why any Forensic Lab on the leading
edge…
• Needs a Micro-XRF
– Throughput – Speed of Analysis increased by a factor of 2x- 5 x over conventional SEM -XRF
– Sensitivity gains – really bright spot generates high count rates
– improves sensitivity (cps/ppm) and
– lower limit of detection for all elements
– Versatile Sample Presentation with Visual Presentations in X,Y and Z planes
– safe anti-crash mechanisms
– crisp, clear image recordings of analyzed areas
– ability to mount large samples and ultra small samples
– ability to automate data collection
– ability to collect data in an air, vacuum or helium atmosphere
– ability to analyze samples in solid, powdered, or liquid forms
– Advanced Software with useful features like ASTM templates and norm governed protocols,
customizable reports,
– ITS NON DESTRUCTIVE

Excitation source characteristics
Small spot size with high
brilliance
High kV for excitation
efficiency for high Z elements
High mA rating for low Z
element excitation
Primary Beam filters to
change the energy profiles of
the excitation allowing for
enhancements of different
regions of the spectral output
and optimization of detection
limits
Poly-capillary
focusing optics
Energy
Dispersive SDD
Detector
Incident X-
rays
Sample
X-ray Source
Characteristic
X-rays from
Sample

Large Area SDD detectors
The larger the area of the detector , the greater the solid angle that can be used for
intensity collection and the quicker large numbers of counts can be collected and
processed – increases analysis speed and increases mapping speeds

Versatile Stage for mounting objects
for analysis

Versatile Sample Handling Features

Large Sample Volume Chamber and
Mapping

Necessary Software Features

More Software Features

the rubber meets the road
FORENSIC APPLICATIONS

• Glass, Ceramics (homogeneity, inclusions, particles)
• Metal alloys (homogeneity, particles, wire filament)
• Inorganic contaminants, residues, deposits (ex. Corrosion)
• Inorganic additives polymers, paints, inks, biological tissue
• Inclusions in plastics, “light matrix” materials
• Soil Samples, ink analysis
Forensics in General

Gun Shot Residue Analysis
• GSR is principally composed of burnt and un-burnt particles from the explosive primer, the
propellant—and possibly fragments of the bullet, cartridge case, and the firearm.
• In 1979 Wolten et al. proposed a classification of GSR based on composition, morphology, and size.
Four compositions were considered characteristic:
• Lead, antimony, and barium
• Barium, calcium, and silicon
• Antimony
• Barium.
• Particle analysis by scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy detector is the most powerful forensic tool that investigators can use to determine a
subject's proximity to a discharging firearm or contact with a surface exposed to GSR (firearm, spent
cartridge case, target hole). Test accuracy requires procedures that avoid secondary gunshot residue
transfer from police officers onto subjects or items to be tested, and that avoid contamination in the
laboratory
• ASTM E1588-10e1, Standard Guide for GSR analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy
Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA,
2010.

Forensic Glass Analysis
E-2926-13 ASTM
Automation software for
analyzing Glass for Forensic
Court cases.
Software Features:
Simple “Wizard” software
approach for standard
calibrations.
Automatically calculates
difficult ratios and statistics
required
Automatically creates Excel
spread sheets as required
reporting structure for court
cases

Automotive Paint Chips
Analysis Profiles for each layer will allow Make and Model identification
Elemental
Mapping of
Paint Chip
Cross Section

Latent Fingerprint Analysis
Detection of Visible and Latent Fingerprints using Micro XRF Elemental Imaging
J Forensic science, January 2006 Vol 51 No 1
Christopher G Worley, Sara S. Wilthshire, Thomasin C. Miller; George J. Havrilla,
Vahid Majidi
Elemental Mapping of K and Cl

Precious Metals and Gem Stone
Authentication
Fake Metal Used

Faulty Brake Pads – Cause of Fatal Auto
Accident

Currency Fraud
Elemental Mapping of Ink
components of Bank Notes
for authentication

 THE MICRO-XRF addresses THE sensitivity and speed
requirements of a LOCAL, STATE or FEDERAL
FORENSIC LAB
 Its powerful software interface and Built-in ASTM
Templates make its data COURT ROOM READY
 Its Ease of use- means a minimal learning curve for new
users, It uses familiar EDX technology
 Its POWERFUL QUANTIFICATION allows validation and
definition of performance precision – reduces subjectivity in
data evaluation
IN CONCLUSION…

For more information contact us
XRF Sales and Consulting, Austin TX
+1 512-239-8174
info@xrfsco.com
www.xrfsco.com

Forensics micro xrf linked in

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