What needs to be clarified
Compare construction, physical features and composition of both layers, separating stable differences from use-related changes.
Materials to prepare
- Packaging fragment with tape and adhesive undisturbed
- Reference roll packed separately
- Packaging photographs and heat, solvent and storage history
What to compare
Record width, thickness, backing structure and edges. Assess physical fit if ends survive, then compare backing and adhesive separately by suitable microscopy and spectroscopy. Consider packaging contamination, ageing, roll variability and sample size; similar backing does not establish whole-tape similarity.
Possible outcome of the analysis
A report may show agreements and differences by layer, assess their value and state whether physical fit can be examined.
Limits of the conclusions
Agreement in both layers alone cannot identify a particular roll without individualising features, nor determine application time or who used the tape.