Raman spectroscopy of automotive and architectural pigments: in situ identification and evidentiary significance.

This project involves conducting a pigment analysis of three hundred paint samples collected from automotive and architectural paints. The results of these will provide insight into several unexplored areas: - Bulk in situ identification. Analysis of paint samples with no sample preparation to determine the range of pigments that can be routinely identified in paint evidence. - Identification of pigments present at trace levels. Development of methods utilizing thin sections and the spatial resolution of confocal Raman microspectroscopy in select samples to identify pigments present at low levels. - Evidentiary significance of pigment evidence. Through the analysis of numerous paint samples, how many pigments can be readily identified and how common is each pigment? ca/ncf