Fiber Analysis

Fibers
• Used as trace evidence

• Direct transfer
– From the source to a suspect or victim

• Secondary transfer
– From the source to one person and then to another
• Victim to suspect or suspect to victim
 Collecting Samples
• Use vacuums, sticky tape, lint rollers or forceps
to collect

• Fiber
– Placed on clean paper & sealed
• Article of clothing
– Rolled inside paper and sealed in a bag

• Large objects (screens, car fenders,...) are also

sealed for inspection
 Testing Fibers
• First step
– Identify type of fiber (color and shape)
• Use of microscopes (light &/or infrared microscopy)

• Second step
– Chemical composition test
• Gas chromatograph or mas spectrometer

Previously, burn tests were performed

 Evaluating Fiber Evidence
• Type of fiber
• Color
• # of fibers found
– What would more fibers suggest?
• Violence or longer exposure
• Where they originated from
• Different fibers transferred
• Type of crime
– Certain crimes have patterns of contact time
Fiber Classification
 Natural Fibers
• Animal fibers comprise majority of natural fibers
– Wool (sheep)
– Mohair, cashmere (goats)
– Silk (caterpillar cocoons)
– Cotton, hemp, jute (plants)

• Asbestos is a natural mineral fiber

– No longer used

Forensic scientists look at the composition of

cellulose to determine different plant fibers
GOT WOOL?
 Man Made Fibers
• Increasingly replaced natural fibers in garments
and fabrics

• Made of monomers being joined together to

produce a polymer strand

Making Synthetic Fibers Video

 Types of Synthetic Fibers
• Rayon
• Polyester
• Nylon
• Acrylic

Synthetic fibers deteriorate in bright sunlight &

melt a lower temperatures
 Identifying Textiles
• Check weave patterns

• Thread count
– # per square inch