FORENSIC CHEMICAL ANALYSIS (FRS 651)

LABORATORY REPORT
EXPERIMENT 2:
PAINT CHIP ANALYSIS BY USING SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS
(Date of Experiment: 29/03/2018)

NAME: NURUL HAZIQAH BINTI HASAN

NO ID: 2016666772
GROUP: AS2535B2

GROUP MEMBERS’ NAME:

NUR AININA MOHAMED AINI 2016666752

NURUL JUNAIDAH BINTI TARMIZI 2016666618

RAHAYU BINTI ABDUL RAHMAN 2016666766

MUDZAFFAR ADHA B ALI JOHARI 2015140449

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 05/04/2018

LECTURER’S NAME: MADAM HAMIZAH MD RASHID

INTRODUCTION

The determination and identification of automobile paints is hardest part in road accident
investigations. For other circumstances, automobile paint is the most important trace as an
evidence that can be collected at the crime scene, thus would help in analysis [1]. The paint
chip fragments are need to compare as it will help to identify the origin of the suspected car
with the car that involved in the crime scene. Furthermore, the identification of the paint
component may provide information of the kind of paints and its producer for example like hit-
and-run accidents [2]. Automobile paint components is a complex multi-component system
which has designed to protect the frame of vehicle. Each layer of paint chip has a characteristic
function and comprised of a distinctive formulation of binders, resins, pigments, and additives
[3]. To characterize paint traces, the analytical approach help in forensic examination which
they relies on the analysis of each layer via a combination of microscopic and spectroscopic
techniques [4,5].

Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) will be used to determine the composition of the
sample which the sample can be compare to recognize their similarities. Another approach that
can be applied is by using the Video Spectral Comparator (VSC). This instrument is capable
to view or record the response of paints, inks or documents when exposed under light of
different wavelengths. The spectrum modes can be either reflectance, absorption and
transmission. Colorimetric was used to recognize the coloring measurement including the
brightness and chromaticity.

The aim of this experiment is to compare and identify the paint chip analysis by using
different techniques of spectroscopic.
MATERIALS & METHODS

A) FTIR-ATR
Those same flat paint chips were placed facing down onto the Ge crystal. Suitable
pressure was applied to ensure that the surface of the paint chip comes in contact with
the Ge crystal sufficiently. Careful not to break the paint chips pieces. Then, the
wavelength of the samples was collected from 4000-400cm#$ . The spectrum data were
printed and analyzed.

B) Video Spectral Comparator (VSC)

The paint chips were broke into thin, small pieces. Those samples were then put into
VSC instrument in position side to side with the white standard tile. The spectrum of
those paint chips were measured based on two modes of light travel which were
reflectance and absorption. The spectrum data together with colorimetric were printed.

RESULT/DISCUSSION

There are two types of variable that can be manipulated during the experiment is carried out.
The type of paint chips has been summarized in table 1.

Table 1 : The type of paint chips based on their colour and brand.

TYPE 1 TYPE 2

BRAND COLOUR BRAND COLOUR

ISWARA GREY

WAJA GREY ISWARA BLUE

WIRA RED

Type 1 is categorized as same colour with different brand of car and type 2 is different colour
with same brand. This has been made to discriminate and identify either the composition in
paint manufacture was still in their originality or not. By using FTIR-ATR and VSC, both type
1 and type 2 was analysed and observed.
 A) FTIR-ATR

Figure 1 : IR spectra of grey colors in different brand of car.

From figure 1, IR spectrum of Wira and Iswara contain broad peak of benzene rings at the
range of 3000-3500 cm#$ . But for Waja the benzene rings was not shown in the IR spectrum.
The IR spectrum of Iswara and Waja shows most similar pattern since both of them might
contain Azurite dye around 1370.00 to 1379.00 cm#$ . Iswara paint chip have a peak at 3697.00
cm#$ while Wira paint chip have a peak at 1236.53 cm#$ . Those peak that only present in
specific brand gave differences between the spectrum of grey in color.

It can be assumed that different spectra come from the different types of side mixtures
used by those brands such pigments or binders. IR spectrum of Iswara shows some crowded
because there might be contain of TiO2 and ZnO which the peak was around 400-1000 cm#$ .
 Figure 2 : IR spectra of grey, blue and red in same brand of car.

The spectrum for red and blue are relatively similar because the blue paint chip contain red
color at the inner layer. The broad peak occurs in the range of 3000-3500 cm#$ that present
in all three spectrums comes from the benzene rings that present in most mixture of paints
such as additives, binders and pigments. IR spectrum of red color might contain Azurite at
peak 1539.44 cm#$ . It must be the color of the coated layer.

Meanwhile, it also have peak of iron oxide, same with both blue and grey spectrum at
peak 1379.00 cm#$ . Iron oxide gives red color, it must be the original color of blue car paint
chip.
 B) Video Spectral Comparator
Type 1

Figure 3 : The graph of the absorbance of Type 1 with wavelength vs the % of maximum
intensity.

Table 2 : Data of the absorbance of Type 1

Brand Intensity (%) l max (nm)

Waja 51 590

Wira 83 580

Iswara 83 580

Based on the table 2, the maximum wavelength that has been absorbed by the three grey paint
chip color with different brand are mostly the same. However, Wira and Iswara shows that
both of them has highest intensity of the absorbance followed by Waja. From this observation,
the Wira and Iswara might use the high quality of the grey color. Thus, Waja shows its lowest
intensity indicate that the low quality of grey’s color has been used.
 Figure 4 : The colorimetric of the absorbance of Type 1

From figure 4, point of Waja brand was the most further than the other which the color near to
the center of white region. It means that the grey color that has been used was very bright and
thin also has low intensity of grey color. Wira grey color was closest to the light blue color and
further from the center of white region which the grey color was closest to dark grey.

Figure 5 : The graph of the reflectance of Type 1 with wavelength vs the % of maximum
intensity.
 Figure 6 : The colorimetric of the reflectance of Type 1

By comparing the colorimetric of the type 1 absorbance and reflectance, the position is opposite
to each other. Their position was indicated that both of them follow the principle proposed
which light absorbed are opposite to the light reflected. However the position of grey color
from this three brand still near to the center of white region.

Type 2

Figure 7 : The graph of the absorbance of Type 2 with wavelength vs the % of maximum
intensity.
 Table : Data of the absorbance of Type 2

Color Intensity (%) l max (nm)

Red 92 570

Blue 92 580

Grey 74 560

Based on the table 2, the maximum wavelength absorbed by the three different color paint chip
of Iswara travel at the different wavelength. By right, as the blue and red color has the highest
intensity that the grey color so it indicates that the color are brighter.

Figure 8 : The colorimetric of the absorbance of Type 2

From the colorimetric above, it obviously seen that blue color are more higher quality because
the position of the intensity are far from the center of white region also known as the center of
colorimetric. Grey color shows the most less quality compared to the red color.
 Figure 9 : The graph of the reflectance of Type 2 with wavelength vs the % of maximum
intensity.

Figure 8 : The colorimetric of the reflectance of Type 2

By comparing the colorimetric of the type 2 absorbance and reflectance, the position is opposite
to each other. Their position was indicated that both of them follow the principle proposed
which light absorbed are opposite to the light reflected. However the position of grey color
from this three brand still near to the center of white region.
CONCLUSION

From this experiment, it can be concluded that by using spectroscopic method can analyzed
the composition of paint chip color. With IR spectrum, the differences in spectrum indicates
that the different brand will produce different type of components. Though some of them give
same results but might be the quantity of the components was not same. Furthermore under the
VSC application help to detect the quality of color that has been used by the company in order
to produce the paint chip color of car. Thus, the most important is the originality of the paint
chip also can be determined.

REFERENCES

1. Maric, M., Bronswijk, W.v., Lewis, S.W. and Pitts, K. (2014). Synchrotron FTIR
characteristic of automotive primer surfacer paint coatings for forensic
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2. Zięba-Palus, J. (1999). Application of micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
to the examination of paint samples. Journal of Molecular Structure, 511-512:
327-335.
3. Bentley, J. (2001). Composition, manufacture and use of paint. In: B. Caddy (Ed.),
Forensic Examination of Glass and Paint: Analysis and Interpretation (pp.
123-141). Taylor & Francis, London.
4. Maric, M., Bronswijk, W.v., Lewis, S.W., Pitts, K. and Martin D.E (2013).
Characterisation of chemical component migration in automotive paint by
synchrotron infrared imaging. Forensic Science International 228: 165-169.
5. Zięba-Palus, J. and Michalska, A. (2014). Photobleachig as a useful technique in
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