Paint has numerous uses and can be found at the scenes of many crimes from burglaries to murders. Art paint traces are usually used as evidence in cases involving art fraud and forgery. Paint analysis involves analysing and comparing the composition of different paints. This information is not just of use to forensic scientists, it can also be used by art conservators, restorers and authenticators. The aim of the study was to determine whether modern art paints of the same shade can be discriminated. This was achieved using a combination of FTIR and ICP-OES analysis. The FTIR analysis produced spectra for each of the paints which were then compared. Peak intensity ratios for the O-H, C-H, C=O, and C-O peaks from the FTIR spectra were then calculated and statistically analysed using ttests. The ICP-OES analysis was preceded by acid digestion. This prepared the samples for the analysis. The ICP-OES was then used to compare the concentrations of Sn, Ba, Ti, Fe, Cu and Al present in the digestates. The concentrations were then statistically analysed using their standard deviations. The results obtained using these methods showed that it is
possible to discriminate between modern art paints using these methods, proving the initial hypothesis. Further research could be conducted to produce a standardised digestion method for paints, which may lead to greater utilisation of the ICP-OES in cases involving paint traces.
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