NCJ Number
118046
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1989) Pages: 352-370
Date Published
1989
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was used to compare photocopy toner material from photocopies from 62 different (brand name or model number or both) photocopy machines.
Abstract
A simple sample lifter was developed for obtaining a specimen of toner from the copy free of paper fibers. Toner obtained from a single, standard typewriter-sized character usually provided enough organic material to give a satisfactory pyrogram. Based upon the presence or absence of peaks in the pyrograms, the toners were separated into 18 classes. Most of the toner classes fell into two general groups: those containing a large amount of styrene, usually with smaller amounts of butyl methacrylate or other methacrylates or acrylates, or some combination of these chemicals; and those toners consisting mainly of some type of epoxy resin. (Author abstract)