Method of identifying a surface
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for identifying a surface, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a plurality of trace materials, each said trace material corresponding to a compound of a different metal;
establishing a database in which a unique combination of at least three said metal compounds is assigned to a unique source;
formulating a composition containing said unique combination together with an indicator material and a solvent system therefor, said solvent system comprising a solvent which is volatile under conditions of application;
applying said composition to a surface, and permitting said solvent to evaporate, said composition after evaporation being colorless, odorless and having no feel thereto;
detecting said composition on the basis of said indicator material and identifying each of the plurality of metal compounds therein; and
determining the unique source from said database.
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Abstract
A method for identifying a surface in which a plurality of trace material is used to establish a database in which a unique combination of trace materials is assigned to a unique source. A composition is formulated containing the unique combination together with an indicator material and a solvent system, the solvent system including a solvent which is volatile under conditions of application. This composition is applied to a surface and the solvent permitted to evaporate, after which the composition is detected on the basis of the indicator material and each of the plurality of trace materials is identified. The unique source can then be determined from the database.
40 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a surface, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a plurality of trace materials, each said trace material corresponding to a compound of a different metal; establishing a database in which a unique combination of at least three said metal compounds is assigned to a unique source; formulating a composition containing said unique combination together with an indicator material and a solvent system therefor, said solvent system comprising a solvent which is volatile under conditions of application; applying said composition to a surface, and permitting said solvent to evaporate, said composition after evaporation being colorless, odorless and having no feel thereto; detecting said composition on the basis of said indicator material and identifying each of the plurality of metal compounds therein; and determining the unique source from said database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for identifying a surface, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a plurality of separately identifiable trace materials; establishing a database in which a unique combination of at least five said trace materials is assigned to a unique source; formulating a composition containing said unique combination together with an indicator material and a solvent system therefor, said solvent system comprising a solvent which is volatile under conditions of application; applying said composition to a surface, and permitting said solvent to evaporate, said composition after evaporation being colorless, odorless and having no feel thereto; detecting said composition on the basis of said indicator material and identifying the plurality of trace materials therein; and determining the unique source from said database. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification