FSG

ANALYSIS OF PAINT CHIPS BY USING SPECTROSCOPIC

METHODS
Nur Atirah Sakinah Mohd Ali, Noor Fazliana Amir, Nurul Atikah Azmi
Department of Applied Science, University Technology MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

Written on 16 November 2016

Abstract: In this experiment, the similarities and differences between chosen paint chips were
study. For group 1, paint chips that come from same brand which was Proton were used. Three
different colors were chosen from Proton’s car which were blue, green and red. For group 2, the
variable was changed from color into brands. So, all blue paint chips were obtained from three
different brands that consist of Proton, Perodua and Honda. The analysis was conducted by using
two types of instruments which were Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) and Video Spectral
Comparator (VSC).

1. Introduction adds the bulk and covering capacity. Binder

Paint chip from vehicle contains vital
evidence in forensic field especially for
cases that involved hit and run, crime that
was committed inside a car and many more.
Usually, typical brand new automotive
refinishments consist of at least four
different layers which known as primer,
primer surface, basecoat and clear coat. The
composition of this four basic layer is
relatively different from each other.
Normally, paint chip contain a mixture of
extenders, pigments, binders and modifiers.
The pigments that give blue or green color
of the paint are mostly comes from organic
compounds while the others such as red,
yellow and white color are often produced
from inorganic compounds. Modifiers used
to control the flexibility, durability and
toughness of the paint while extenders will
helps to stabilize the mixture and form a
film when it spread. It is a natural or
synthetic resin. When a forensic chemist
received a paint chip sample, two types of
investigations which are identifications and
classifications will be done. A few methods
will be use towards these investigations.
Firstly, the Video Spectral Comparator
(VSC). This instrument is capable to view or
record the response of paints, inks or
documents when exposed under light of
different wavelengths. The spectrum modes
can be either reflectance, absorption and
transmission. Colorimetric was used to
recognize the coloring measurement
including the brightness and chromaticity.
Next, Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR)
will be use to determine the composition of
the sample so two of them can be compare
to recognize the similarities.
 2. Experimental Table 3.1) Types of color and brand of
cars for the paint chip samples used.
2.1 Instrumental
Type 1 Type 2
Thermo Nicole 6700 FTIR.
Car model Color Car model Color
Foster & Freeman VSC 5000.
Proton Blue Proton Blue
2.2 Methodology
Proton Red Perodua Blue
a) Video Spectral Comparator (VSC)
Proton Green Honda Blue
The paint chips were broke into thin, small
pieces. Those samples were then put into
VSC instrument in position side to side with Both type 1 and type 2 were analyzed by
the white standard tile. The spectrum of using FTIR and VSC. So first, the results
those paint chips were measured based on obtained from analysis conducted for type 1
two modes of light travel which were will be discussed.
reflectance and absorption. The spectrum
data together with colorimetric were printed. Type 1 group consist of three samples of
paint chip that comes from same brand, but
b) FTIR-ATR relatively different color.
Those same flat paint chips were placed
facing down onto the Ge crystal. Suitable
pressure was applied to ensure that the
surface of the paint chip comes in contact
with the Ge crystal sufficiently. Careful not
to break the paint chips pieces. Then, the
wavelength of the samples was collected
from 4000-400 cm-1. The spectrum data
were printed and analyzed.

3. Result and discussion

There are two types of variable manipulated

in this experiment. The characteristics were Image 3.1) Absorbance spectrum of type 1
described below.

Table 3.2) Data tabulation for absorbance

of type 1
 Color Intensity λ max (nm) Image 3.3) Reflectance spectrum for type
(%) 1
Blue 88 590
Red 100 580
Green 91 590

Based on the table above, it shows that blue

and green paint chip of proton absorbs the
light travel at the same maximum
wavelength. However, red color has higher
intensity than the other two which indicates
that red color are brighter. Image 3.4) Colorimetric of reflectance for
type 1

From the image of 3.1 and 3.3, we can see

Image 3.2) Colorimetry of absorbance for
type 1
From the colorimetric above, we can see that
the red color of proton are more higher
quality because the position of the intensity
are far from the center of colorimetric which
is white color. Green color is the most less
quality compared to the blue color.
that the absorbance and reflectance spectrum
formed a mirror image of each other. It is
because according to the principal, light
absorbed are opposite to the light reflected.
Based on the reflectance colorimetric in
image 3.4, we can see that only two point of
color appears. The point of blue and red
color is overlapping at the red region. It is
because; the original color of the blue paint
chip car released by proton was actually red
color. However, the owner coated the car
with new different color which was blue.
This situation cannot be detected through
light absorption because it only involve the
outer layer of the paint chip surface, but,
with reflected of light, the original color can
be detected. When applied in forensic field
studies, it is useful to determine whether that
particular car was involved in crime scene or
nor, for example in hit and run cases.
Although the owner had change the color of
their car as a camouflage, VSC analysis can
still detect the original color.
Image 3.4) IR spectrum for type 1 (From Image 3.5) Absorbance spectrum of type 2
the top: red, green, blue)

The spectrum for red and blue are relatively

Table 3.3) Data tabulation for absorbance
similar because the blue paint chip contain
of type 2
red color at the inner layer. The broad peak
occurs in the range of 3000-3500 cm-1 that Brand Intensity λ max (nm)
present in all three spectrums comes from (%)
the benzene rings that present in most Proton 88 590
mixture of paints such as additives, binders Perodua 98 590
and pigments. In green spectrum, it has Honda 99 590
chromium oxide that gives rise to the green
color and form intense peak at 1029.64 cm-1.
Based on the table above, the maximum
Blue spectrum contains azurite at peak
wavelength absorbed by the three blue paint
1540.18 cm-1. It must be the color of the
chip color with different brands are exactly
outer coated layer. Meanwhile, it also have
the same. However, Honda brands have the
peak of iron oxide, same with red spectrum
highest intensity of the absorbance followed
at peak 1379.00 cm-1. Iron oxide gives red
by Perodua brand. It shows that Honda
color, it must be the original color of blue
brand used the highest quality of the blue
car paint chip.
color. Proton is the most low intensity which
Type 2 group consist of three samples of means that the quality of their color are
paint chip that have same color but comes slightly lower.
from different company or brand.
 Image 3.8) Colorimetric of reflectance for
Image 3.6) Colorimetric of absorbance for
type 2
type 2
When comparing their absorption and
As shown in the colorimetric above, point of
reflection spectrum in image 3.5 and 3.8, it
Honda brand was the most further than the
shows that these two formed a pattern that
center of white region. It means that their
was opposite to each other. It indicates that
blue color is very bright, intense and thick.
both of them follow the principal proposed.
Proton blue color was closest to the white
For the reflectance colorimetric, there was
region, their blue paint must have a less
one point marked at the red region. Since the
bright and low intensity of blue color.
variable used was brand, all points actually
must lay in blue region. However, since the
exact same paint chip of blue proton from
type 1 was used, it also shows differentiation
in the color region due to the original color
present as explained before.

Image 3.7) Reflectance spectrum for type

2

Image 3.9) IR spectrum for type 2 (From

the top: Proton, Honda, Perodua)
For the IR spectrum, both Honda and Proton experiment of type 1, although the paint
contained broad peak of benzene rings at the chips comes from the very same company
range of 3000-3500 cm-1. It also present in and brand, individually, they are difference
Perodua type but in a little bit lower peak. due to the different color and pigmentations
The patterns look similar since all of them used.
have the peak for Azurite dye around
1370.00 to 1379.00 cm-1. Honda paint chip References
have a peak at 1235.83 cm-1 while Perodua 1. Michael D. T. Clark, Paints and
type have a peak at 1540.29 cm-1. Those Pigments, Retrieved from
peak that only present in specific brand gave http://nzic.org.nz/ChemProcesses/polymers/
differences between the spectrum of blue 10D.pdf
color car. It must come from the different
types of side mixtures used by those brands 2. Waldie, John M. (Chairman, textbook
such as pigments or binders. Proton editing committee); Surface Coatings.
spectrum was a little bit crowded, because it Volume 1 - Raw Materials and Their Usage;
also shows some peak of red dye. Oil and Colour Chemists' Association,
Australia; 1974, 1983
4. Conclusion
3. RRUFF Company, (2015),
From this experiment, it can be concluded
Azurite, Retrieved from
that different brands will obviously gave
http://rruff.info/Azurite/R050497
different spectrum when analyzed with IR
due to the different components present used
by the company. Some of them might be
same, but the quantity used was absolutely
different. Their VSC spectrum were a little
bit close since VSC focused on the color
difference, but we still can detect the quality
and the most important was, either the color
of the car are original or not. Although the
previous paint layer was removed and
coated with new one, it still can be detected
by using VSC. Forensic analyst can always
differentiate and compared either the two
paint chips comes from the very same
source or not. It was proved by the