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Identification of Polyethylene by Differential Scanning Calorimetry: Application to forensic science

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Abstract

A forensic sample consisting of melt-recrystallized polymers that was recovered from the scene of a fire in a factory was identified by differential scanning calorimetry. The factory commonly used two kinds of film sheets, A and B, made by different manufacturers. It was necessary to decide whether the forensic sample related to material A or B. The forensic sample and reference samples of materials A and B were subjected to infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatograph mass spectrometry measurements, which revealed their polyethylene nature. The thermal behaviour of the samples was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and they were found to be blends of two kinds of polyethylenes, low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene. The samples could be identified and distinguished from each other via the DSC measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Criminal Investigation Laboratory, Saitama Prefecture Police H. Q., 3-15-1, Takasago, Urawa, Saitama, 336-8533, Japan

    T. Tsukame, M. Kutsuzawa & H. Sekine

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Saitama University, 255, Shimo-okubo, Urawa, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan

    H. Saitoh & Y. Shibasaki

Authors
  1. T. Tsukame
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  2. M. Kutsuzawa
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  3. H. Sekine
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  4. H. Saitoh
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  5. Y. Shibasaki
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Tsukame, T., Kutsuzawa, M., Sekine, H. et al. Identification of Polyethylene by Differential Scanning Calorimetry: Application to forensic science. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 57, 847–851 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010106612095

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010106612095

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