[Analysis of common ballpoint inks]

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Acknowledgement

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the standard ink library with its discrimination methods for differentiation amidst the locally made ballpoint inks. Two groups of ballpoint inks were collected from diverse causes, one of them contained four blue inks (inks 1-4) and the other contained four black inks(inks 5-8). The results of ink identification obtained from non-destructive methods, for example filtered light examination (FLE) and microspectrophotometry (MSP) were compared with that obtained from Raman spectroscopy and Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS). The results show that only blue ink 1 was distinguished from the other blue inks 2, 3, and 4 by all physical tests, while the last cited three inks could not be distinguished from each other by any one of the chosen physical methods. Black inks 6 and 7 were distinguished from black inks 5 and 8 by all methods except infrared luminescence (IRL). Inks 5 and 8 were differentiated by SERRS. Similar inks which could not be differentiated by the preceding methods have been distinguished utilising thin layer chromatography (TLC). The results demonstrated that blue inks 2 and 3 are almost the identical inks .Blue inks 1 and 4 could be differentiated from each other and from blue inks 2 and 3. TLC could not distinguish black inks 6 and 7 and the results of energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed that they contained the identical inorganic elements. They could be distinguished from inks 5 and 8. The subsequent could be differentiated from each other by TLC and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. It was resolved that SERRS is a complementary and very helpful non-destructive technique to the widespread nondestructive techinque. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis was found to be a rapid and sensitive technique that effectively differentiated the chosen inks. Although TLC is a well established technique for the evaluation of inks, it can be effectively restored by the X-ray analysis.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION8

Background of the Study8

Research Aims & Objectives11

Theoretical framework12

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY17

3.1 Sampling17

3.2 Procedure17

3.2.1 Non-destructive Physical Experiments17

Filtered Light Examination17

Microspectrophotometry18

Raman spectroscopy18

Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering18

3.2.2 Semi-destructive Chemical Experiments19

Thin Layer Chromatography19

Characteristic X-ray Spectroscopy20

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION21

4.1 Filtered Light Examination (FLE)21

4.2 Microspectrophotometry22

4.3 Raman Spectroscopy23

4.4 SEERS23

4.5 TLC25

4.6 Energy dispersive X-ray analysis26

Discussion27

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION34

APPENDIX41

Chapter 1: Introduction

Background of the Study

Examination of suspect documents is one of the oldest branches of forensic science. The introduction of new writing materials simultaneously with expanded literacy led naturally to an increase in the activities of the writing forgery. Such forgery generally takes place in documents for example cheques, passports, birth certificate ...