Ink Dating and Paper Analysis
Evidence may not be visible to the naked eye
Ink Testing and Paper Examinations
How can ink analysis and paper examinations help determine when a document was produced?
The chemical analysis of writing and printing inks, as well as paper, can be invaluable when trying to prove whether a document is fraudulent. Ink dating is a highly specialized forensic examination and considered to be one of the most accurate and reliable methods to help determine the age of a document.
Ink Dating and Ink Aging
An ink formulation can be identified to a specific manufacturer to ascertain the first date of commercial availability. If an entry is dated in 1995, but the ink was not available until 2005 then the document could not have been created in 1995.
Inks contain chemical solvents that evaporate and generally go through a drying process that can last up to 2 years. We use the most widely accepted chemical analysis technique known as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to help determine if a written entry was created in the past two years.
Comparing Writing Inks
Chemical analysis can be conducted on a suspicious entry to determine if it is consistent with other associated or surrounding writings.
Multiple inks can be chemically compared with each other to corroborate or refute whether the entries were created contemporaneously or produced over multiple periods of time.
Forensic Analysis of Printers and Copiers
Ink analysis and dating can also be conducted on machine printed document such as inkjet ink and toner from photocopiers, laser printers, and facsimile machines.
Forensic Paper Examination
GERALD M. LAPORTE FORENSIC CHEMIST AND DOCUMENT DATING SPECIALIST
Gerald M. LaPorte, M.S.F.S. has extensive experience as a forensic chemist and document dating specialist. He trained with and served as the Chief Research Forensic Chemist with the United States Secret Service and was responsible for maintaining the largest known forensic collection of writing inks in the world. Mr. LaPorte has published several scientific papers in the area of forensic document examination and authored chapters in the Forensic Chemistry Handbook (“Chemical Analysis Techniques Used in Forensic Document Examinations”) and The Wiley Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences(“Document Fraud and Forgery”). Mr. LaPorte is an active member in numerous forensic organizations and has provided expert testimony in international, federal, and state courts.