4.1 This test method is useful for the determination of elemental concentrations in the microgram per gram (µgg^-1) to percent (%) levels in soda-lime glass samples. A standard test method can aid in the interchange of data between laboratories and in the creation and use of glass databases.

4.2 The determination of elemental concentrations in glass provides high discriminating value in the forensic comparison of glass fragments.

4.3 This test method produces minimal destruction of the sample. Microscopic craters of 50 to 100 µm in diameter by 80 to 150-µm deep are left in the glass fragment after analysis. The mass removed per replicate is approximately 0.4 to 3.1 µg.

4.4 Appropriate sampling techniques should be used to account for natural heterogeneity of the materials at a microscopic scale.

4.5 The precision, accuracy, and limits of detection of the method (for each element measured) should be established in each laboratory that employs the method. The measurement uncertainty of any concentration value used for a comparison should be recorded with the concentration.

4.6 Acid digestion of glass followed by either Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) or Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) may also be used for trace elemental analysis of glass, and offer similar detection levels and the ability for quantitative analysis. However, these methods are destructive, and require larger sample sizes and much longer sample preparation times (Test Method E2330).

4.7 Micro X-Ray Fluorescence (µ-XRF) uses comparable sample sizes to those used for LA-ICP-MS with the advantage of being non-destructive of the sample. Some of the drawbacks of µ-XRF are poorer sensitivity and precision, and longer analysis time.

4.8 Scanning Electron Microscopy with EDS (SEM-EDS) is also available for elemental analysis, but it is of limited use for forensic glass source discrimination due to poor detection limits for higher atomic number elements present in glass at trace concentration levels. However, distinguishing between sources having similar RIs and densities is possible.