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Only black inkjet prints were studied with regard to forensic examination of documents. We analysed twenty-one inkjet prints using surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). The present paper deals with micro-destructive document analysis based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) use to obtain surface enhanced ATR-FTIR (attenuated total reflection -- Fourier transform infrared) spectra directly from the document. For this experiment, AgNPs in colloid form was applied. AgNPs for SEIRAS analyses were synthesised and afterwards analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The purpose of the enhancement of colloids was to improve the resolution of the absorption signal of the analysed samples from noise. In the experiment, the obtained ink ATR-FTIR spectra, with and without silver treatment, were significantly affected by the paper base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method has been developed for identification of corrosive iron-gall inks in historical drawings and documents. The method is based on target-factor analysis of visible-near infrared fibre optic reflection spectra (VIS-NIR FORS). A set of reference spectra was obtained from model samples of laboratory-prepared inks covering a wide range of mixing ratios of basic ink components deposited on substrates and artificially aged. As criteria for correspondence of a studied spectrum with a reference spectrum, the apparent error in target (AET) and the empirical function SPOIL according to Malinowski were used. The capability of the proposed tool to distinguish corrosive iron-gall inks from bistre and sepia inks was evaluated by use of a set of control samples of bistre, sepia, and iron-gall inks. Examples are presented of analysis of historical drawings from the 15th and 16th centuries and written documents from the 19th century. The results of analysis based on the tool were confirmed by XRF analysis and colorimetric spot analysis. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]