1Department of Anthropology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007 (U.P.)- India
2West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700098, India
3Central Forensic Science Laboratory, CBI, New Delhi - 110003
4Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi - 284128, India
5Forensic Science Laboratory, Moradabad - 244001 (U.P.) - India
*Corresponding Author, Ankit Srivastava, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700098, India, E-mail: ankit_forensic81@rediffmail.com
Online Published on 28 July, 2023.
In recent years, polymers are increasingly consumed for the production of motor vehicle parts, weapons, several appliances and electrical equipment. Hence, it has emerged as the counterpart of metals in the major sectors due to its lightweight, resistance to corrosion, cost-effectiveness, and versatile nature to mold and shape. In the present time, most manufactured products consist of proof marks related to the brand, model, caliber, etc. as their identity marks or serial number which satisfactorily establishes the identification and traceability. The upthrust in the use of the polymer increased the number of cases of obliterated serial numbers, imprinted on polymer components or fabrication of the component. Currently, there are no fully validated methods available to restore the obliteration on polymer surfaces. The present study attempted to establish a method for the restoration of rigorously obliterated moulded characters on high-density polyethylene surfaces. The unique combination of heat treatment and reagent polishing has been alternatively applied to carefully restore the characters. Petroleum ether and acetone showed the best restoration results among eight distinct reagents. But petroleum ether sufficiently restored the characters within 35 seconds.
Restoration, Serial Number, Obliterated mark, Polymer, Petroleum Ether, Reagent
