Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for the Rapid Characterization of Lead-Free Gunshot Residues.

This study investigated the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) as means of characterizing gunshot residue (GSR) originating from commercially available lead-free rounds. Data from two experiments are presented in this work. One experiment focused on identifying prominent analytical markers present in lead-free GSR by LIBS while the other applied SEM-EDX to determine the degree of evidence preservation after LIBS analysis.