[Exploration of the broken parts of a brake hose by ATR-FTIR and SEM]

ATR-FTIR and SEM were respectively utilized to analyze the chemical components and to observe the micromorphology of a broken brake hose from a traffic case, which could be a supplementary for the traditional microscopic examination. The instrumental analysis results indicated that the rubber from the brake hose had already aged; the rubber from external side had experienced brittle fracture and there were original hollows in the rubber from internal side. The breaking of the brake hose resulted from all these reasons. The experimental results also demonstrated that the fact could be reflected efficiently, accurately and objectively by the application of ATR-FTIR and SEM to the physical evidence from a case. Therefore, it could be an effective complement for traditional traffic trace examination.