ABSTRACT
An estimated 1000 articles and presentations with potential interest to the forensic science community concerning the areas of paint and glass have been published since mid-2004. Raman spectroscopy is widely reported in the literature for the analysis of paint relatively few forensic laboratories utilize the technique. The number of studies concerning paint and glass analysis in the fields of art and archaeology far exceeds the forensic applications, although these disciplines have much in common. Paint application is historically the most expensive and time consuming step in the automobile assembly process and requires the largest energy consumption. As an alternative to the way paint is traditionally applied to a vehicle, manufacturers are exploring dry paint films. The addition of hollow glass microspheres as an extender in a paint or coating can improve the paint's properties, cut down on the volatile organic compounds and decrease the amount of titanium dioxide needed.
