Examination of U.S. Automotive Paints: I. Make and Model Determination of Hit-and-Run Vehicles by Reflectance Microspectrophotometry

The feasibility of using the Nanometrics DocuSpec I microspectrophotometer for paint analysis was investigated. The reflectance spectra of 15 paint panels of visually similar color from the Reference Collection of Automotive Paints were stored in the DocuSpec computer's memory. Paint samples taken from salvage yard vehicles were compared against this reference library, and in eight out of eleven instances the DocuSpec correctly identified the right panel as a possible source of the paint fragment. The DocuSpec I can be used as a rapid and discriminating screening tool in the determination of the make and model of a hit-and-run vehicle from a paint chip found at the scene.