NCJ Number
12018
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1973) Pages: 175-181
Date Published
1973
Length
7 pages
Annotation
APPLICABILITY OF THE SPECTROFLUOROMETER (SPF) TO THE STUDY OF PHOTOLUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES OF FLUORESCENT AND NON-FLUORESCENT INKS ON WRITTEN DOCUMENTS.
Abstract
USE OF THE SPF IS A SENSITIVE METHOD FOR THE DIFFERENTIATION OF DRIED INK, PARTICULARLY IN DEALING WITH RESTRICTED AMOUNTS. THIS METHOD CAN BE USED TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TWO INKS WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR ACCORDING TO OTHER METHODS SUCH AS VISUAL, FLUORESCENCE, AND THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY. BY THIS METHOD, DRIED INK REMOVED FROM A WRITTEN DOCUMENT IS COMPARABLE TO WET INK SAMPLES. INKS WHICH ARE THOUGHT TO BE NON-FLUORESCENT DO, IN FACT, FLUORESCE. HOWEVER, THEIR MAJOR EMISSION PEAKS ARE INVISIBLE TO THE EYE, AND ANY VISIBLE EMISSION IS OF SUCH WEAK INTENSITY THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE IN FORMULATED INKS. FOR THIS REASON, SPF IS USEFUL IN DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN THEM. EIGHTY-TWO DIFFERENT BALL POINT INKS WERE TESTED WITH THE USE OF THE SPF AND WERE FOUND TO BE DIFFERENTIABLE BY THIS METHOD. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)