Depth elemental imaging of forensic samples by confocal micro-XRF method.

Micro-XRF is a significant tool for the analysis of small regions. A micro-X-ray beam can be created in the laboratory by various focusing X-ray optics. Previously, nondestructive 3D-XRF analysis had not been easy because of the high penetration of fluorescent X-rays emitted into the sample. A recently developed confocal micro-XRF technique combined with polycapillary X-ray lenses enables depth-selective analysis. In this paper, we applied a new tabletop confocal micro-XRF system to analyze several forensic samples, that is, multilayered automotive paint fragments and leather samples, for use in the criminaliztics. Elemental depth profiles and mapping images of forensic samples were successfully obtained by the confocal micro-XRF technique. Multilayered structures can be distinguished in forensic samples by their elemental depth profiles. However, it was found that some leather sheets exhibited heterogeneous distribution. To confirm the validity, the result of a conventional micro-XRF of the cross section was compared with that of the confocal micro-XRF. The results obtained by the confocal micro-XRF system were in approximate agreement with those obtained by the conventional micro-XRF. Elemental depth imaging was performed on the paint fragments and leather sheets to confirm the homogeneity of the respective layers of the sample. The depth images of the paint fragment showed homogeneous distribution in each layer expect for Fe and Zn. In contrast, several components in the leather sheets were predominantly localized.