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Updated: May 15, 2026

An Inverse Analysis Approach to the Characterization of Chemical Transport in Paints
Published on: August 29, 2014
Using paint to investigate fires: an ATR-IR study of the degradation of paint samples upon heating
Kelly Roberts1, Matthew J Almond, John W Bond
1Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AD, U.K.
Abstract:
Fire investigation is a challenging area for the forensic investigator. The aim of this work was to use spectral changes to paint samples to estimate the temperatures to which a paint has been heated. Five paint samples (one clay paint, two car paints, one metallic paint, and one matt emulsion) have been fully characterized by a combination of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-IR), Raman, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The thermal decomposition of these paints has been investigated by means of ATR-IR and thermal gravimetric analysis. Clear temperature markers are observed in the ATR-IR spectra namely: loss of ν(C = O) band, >300°C; appearance of water bands on cooling, >500°C; alterations to ν(Si-O) bands due to dehydration of silicate clays, >700°C; diminution of ν(CO3 ) and δ(CO3 ) modes of CaCO3 , >950°C. We suggest the possible use of portable ATR-IR for nondestructive, in situ analysis of paints.
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