This study used reflectance visible spectroscopy with chemometrics as an in situ ink dating approach for forensic document examination.

No abstract

<div> <div> <div><div><div><p>Polymer identity cards are a key target for counterfeit production, posing significant economic and security threats. Examination of suspect identity cards is largely based on visual features, but could potentially exploit diversity in the card composition. This preliminary study investigated the chemical diversity amongst Western Australian driver’s licences using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with chemometrics. Differences were observed between three series of issue, potentially due to variations in the adhesive or printing materials. Analysis of three licences issued outside of Western Australia also highlighted variations between jurisdictions. This warrants further investigation into the chemical composition of identity cards as a possible tool to assist expert examination.</p></div></div></div> </div> </div>

<div> <div> <div> <p>Counterfeit production of polymer identity cards poses a significant economic cost to society and a threat to national security. Identifying these counterfeits is a challenge for ‘frontline’ personnel who lack training in specialised document examination. This study investigates the use of attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with chemometrics as a potential approach to assessing polymer card authenticity. In situ analysis of several cards found that differentiation could be achieved based on the core polymer composition. A chemometric model was thus built for three driver’s licence series produced in Western Australia and tested using a separate set of seven licences. The majority of test samples were correctly matched to the series of issue, with atypical samples recognisable based on their discriminant values. Synchrotron FTIR imaging revealed that differentiation between each series was possibly related to the adhesive used between the core layers. The approach presented in this work has the potential to be developed as a rapid screening method to identify suspect polymer cards warranting further examination. </p> </div> </div> </div>