AFTE Store - Chemical Properties of Selected Plastic-Tipped Bullets

Fragments of plastic-tipped bullets are often found in wound tracts of unlawfully killed wildlife. Using color, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis coupled to the statistical power of discriminate analysis and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, we were able to characterize the polymers found in common commercially available plastic-tipped bullets. The data is surprising because the high quality control used by the manufacturers provides an opportunity for forensic class character determination.