Optical scattering (TAOS) by tire debris particles: preliminary results

Tire debris particles from low severity laboratory wear tests have been inv estigated by the TAOS optical scattering facility at Yale University. The i ncident wavelength is 532 nm. After the TAOS event some particle samples ha ve been imaged by a scanning electron microscope and microanalyzed. The TAO S intensity patterns recorded within a solid angle in the backward sector h ave been processed by cluster analysis and compared with the patterns compu ted by a T-matrix code. Preliminary agreement has been found between TAOS d ata and the particle models (size, shape, refractive index). The purpose of the investigation is to obtain signatures of the material, based on its TA OS pattern. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.