Ball Pen Research Articles

A simple method for determining the sequence of intersecting ball pen lines

A simple method for determining the chronological sequence of intersecting ball pen lines from the embossing phenomenon at the back of the paper has been described. The continuity of the first line at the point of intersection is always interrupted by the second line (the line on top) which helps to determine the chronological sequence.

A comparison of the use of visible microspectrometry and high performance thin layer chromatography for the discrimination of aqueous inks used in porous tip and roller ball pens

Ink lines made by porous tip and roller ball pens have been examined by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and by transmission microspectrophotometry (VM) in the visible region. Better discrimination between apparently similar coloured inks was obtained with HPTLC but VM has value as an additional technique for ink examination.

Distinctive Qualities of Today's Pens

Features of the writing produced by pens are discussed, to allow classification into traditional ball pen, fiber tip, plastic tip, roller pen, or fountain pen. Line width and quality, presence of grooves, and nature of the ink may all be diagnostic.

Use of a rotating disc multiwavelength detector operating in the visible region of the spectrum for monitoring ball pen inks separated by high-performance liquid chromatography

Use of a rotating disc multiwavelength detector operating in the visible region of the spectrum for monitoring ball pen inks separated by high-performance liquid chromatography

Differentiation between inks of the same brand by infrared luminescence photography of their thin-layer chromatograms

A case is reported involving a U.S. Treasury check with an altered amount payable. The ink in the alteration and the ink in the endorsement signature were compared with ink from three Skilcraft ball pens all having Skilcraft black ink ball pen refills. Infrared luminescence photography of their thin-layer chromatograms revealed differences between the inks in the three pens.

Determination of Sequence of Ball Point Pen Writing Utilising Infrared Luminescence Techniques

The configuration of the groove pattern of a ball pen stroke passing over an existing ball pen stroke can lead to a modified groove construction at the cross-over point which results in positive evidence regarding the sequence of pen strokes. Clear definition of groove intersections can generally only be seen if two different inks of considerably different shade have been employed (eg red/black, red/blue). In practice, the vast majority of documents submitted to the author's laboratory for examination are completed in blue ball pen ink which precludes the reliable visualisation of the intersecting groove pattern. Consequently, infrared and infrared luminescence techniques under high magnification have been employed to highlight the groove patterns of different intersecting ink strokes and hence assist in the determination of sequence of ink strokes.

Examination of Ball Pen Ink by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Abstract High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze several samples of ball pen ink. Analytical parameters were developed to analyze the various constituents of ball pen ink, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Different ball pen ink formulations were examined, as were batch samples of a single formulation. HPLC has proved to be useful in the examination of ball pen ink, allowing for differentiation of formulations and batches of the same formulation.

Identifying Ball Pens by the Burr Striations

Identifying Ball Pens by the Burr Striations

Composition, Properties and Behavior of Ball Pens and Inks

The author is an examiner of questioned documents in Washington, D. C., and for 39 years was a member of the scientific staff of the National Bureau of Standards. During the years that Dr. Souder served with the Bureau of Standards, he appeared as expert witness in federal courts throughout the country and did extensive work in connection with questioned document problems. This article is based upon a technical paper presented at the 1954 annual meeting of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, of which Dr. Souder is a member.-EDIToR.