Compositional characterisation of soda lime glass samples by PIGE and PIXE using proton beams from low energy tandem accelerator

There are varieties of glasses like soda-lime and borosilicate glasses that are being used in our day to day life. Glass fragments/exhibits collected from the scene of crime, such as hit and run accidents, murders and robberies can be used as important Forensic Evidence. Such glasses are mainly toughened soda-lime glasses used in motorized vehicles as windows / windshields, mirrors and cover for rear or front lights. Soda-Lime glasses are primarily consisting of oxides like SiO₂, CaO and Na₂O along with minor concentrations of Al, K, Mg, Ti and Fe oxides and other transition elements and rare earth elements (REEs) as trace impurities. In the present work, two such soda-lime glass samples were analyzed using Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) techniques such as Particle induced Gamma Emission (PIGE) and Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE). Two glass samples and two geological Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) were prepared in pellet forms by mixing homogeneously in cellulose or graphite matrix along with constant weight of current normalisers (CaF₂ for PIGE or Y₂O₃ for PIXE). Results indicated that the two glass samples are from different sources/origin. Thus, IBA methods are useful for grouping/provenance study for such glass samples using major/minor elements besides trace elements