Discrimination of glass sources using elemental composition and refractive index: development of predictive models

J.R. Almirall, M.D. Cole, G. Gettinby, K.G. Furton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Refractive index and metal ion concentrations (Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sr, Ti and Zr) were determined for four product-use categories: headlamp glass; container glass, non-vehicle window float glass, and vehicle float glass. Linear discriminant modelling using these data allowed differentiation of the four glass types but further discrimination was not possible within a product-use category. For this specific set of glasses, the concentrations of a number of metal ions were found to be correlated in some cases. This precluded the use of traditional probability calculations in using elemental composition data for interpretation of glass evidence. Alternative approaches to glass data interpretation are suggested.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)93-100
Number of pages7
JournalScience and Justice
Volume38
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 1998

Keywords

  • forensic science
  • glass analysis
  • headlamp glass
  • container glass
  • float glass
  • elemental composition
  • refractive index
  • linear discriminant modelling

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