Show the area before separating the material
An overall view of the product, identification of the area's location and a close-up photograph complement one another. If the material has already been separated, specify who did so and under what circumstances. Information about the sampling location must not be replaced by an assumption based solely on a similar shade.
Do not combine different areas
Fragments from damage, preserved coating and a repaired area should be distinguished. Mixing samples deprives the examiner of some information about the sequence of layers and their connection to the substrate. The sampling method and permissible quantity of material are agreed with regard to the task and the method's capabilities.
State the purpose of the comparison
Questions about coating composition, similarity between two samples and the mechanism of delamination are different. Causal analysis may require information about surface preparation and use. Analytical similarity between samples should not automatically become a finding that they came from one individual source.
What to prepare
- Photographs of the product and the areas from which samples originated.
- Separate identifiers for every fragment submitted.
- Information about repairs, repainting and conditions of use.
- Documents on the material and application process, where available.
- The comparison task and a list of known hypotheses.
What to bear in mind
Do not use solvents or mechanical abrasion to «reveal layers» yourself. They may alter the material and the sequence of features available for examination.
Outcome of preliminary preparation
Agreement before sampling helps preserve the sample's structure and determine which results can be attributed to a particular surface of the product.
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