The Classification of Explosive Device in Three Southern Border Provinces with Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy

Abstract

This research aimed to study and analyze elemental components of explosive bomb found in three southern border provinces, Thailand, including a comparison of elemental components in various explosive bomb by using SEM/EDX technique to classify types of explosive bomb. This research was experimental research by examining nine samples from the remaining of metal pieces of explosive bomb by using Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. The result showed that elemental components which were different at the statistical significance level of 0.05 included Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Potassium, Chromium, Manganese, Ferrous, Zinc, Chlorine, Calcium and Sulphur. The elemental components that were not significantly different were Titanium, Sodium and Silver. The elements found in all nine samples were Carbon, Oxygen, Silicon, Manganese and Ferrous. Potassium and Zinc were found in eight samples. Calcium was found in seven samples. Magnesium was found in six samples. Aluminium was found in five samples and Chlorine was found in four samples. Elements found in two samples included Nitrogen, Chromium and Sulphur. In summary, all nine samples had elemental compounds and elemental quantity which were different at the statistical significance level of 0.05 and had a unique elemental quantity depending on the types of explosive components and how explosive was produced.