Background

A material type needed to be identified as it had a bearing on a wider case.  The case was centred on dermatitis, which was allegedly caused by handling insulation material.  Experts at CERAM were brought in to determine the nature of the insulation material.

Methodology & Results

XRF chemical analysis was used to determine the bulk composition of typical samples of the material.  It was possible to determine that the samples examined were of the same material.  The compositions were compared with reference data, rock types and other sources.  Other techniques that could have been used would have been XRD to ascertain if the material was glass or mineral.  Evaluation was carried out to determine the presence or absence of asbestiform minerals; and microscopic examination to evaluate the nature of the sample.

Conclusion

The material was identified conclusively as rock wool fibreglass.