Initial results from SEM-EDX and LA-ICP-MS chemical characterisation of barium titanate glass microspheres

Abstract

Barium titanate glass microspheres are used in a variety of applications, particularly for retroreflective materials, owing to their high refractive index. These microspheres can be released into the environment or found at crime scenes due to damage or decomposition. Chemical characterisation of barium titanate glass microspheres using SEM-EDX and LA-ICP-MS showed a good discrimination of the studied materials from each other. The ubiquitously used material has the potential to characterise microtraces at crime scenes or sources of anthropogenically induced particle release in environmental studies, making it a valuable feature.