Do Different Brands of Environmentally Friendly Paints Affect Forensic Paint Analysis?

Paint chip analysis is an essential part of forensic trace evidence in many cases. Standard paint chip analysis is performed via attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). This process allows an examiner to identify the chemical fingerprint that may be unique to the paint and identify the components used to manufacture the paint, including the binders. This study is a continuation of a previous study to determine if environmentally friendly paints present new problems in forensic sciences. Some environmentally friendly paints function as an absorber of volatile organic compounds, including ECOS and Sherwin Williams. In the previous study, ECOS paints showed a significant difference in chemical makeup over time. This study was to demonstrate if the same was true of the SuperPaint® Interior Acrylic with Air Purifying Technology, produced by Sherwin Williams, which claims it “helps reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from potential sources like carpet, cabinets, and fabrics.” To conduct this experiment, the Sherwin-Williams paint was painted on wooden craft sticks in two coats and labeled S1-S5. The backside of the stick was divided into four sections. The sections allow for multiple portions of the stick to be analyzed and for the readings to be within a consistent area each time. To analyze the readings, the spectra intensities of chosen wavenumbers from each time point is placed in a box and whisker plot. The time points are then compared to determine if a statistical difference has occurred.