Fiber Analysis

Hair and Fiber 3

Fiber Evidence
Fiber
The smallest unit of a textile material
that has a length many times greater
than its diameter
Can be spun with other fibers to form a
yarn (rope) that can be woven or
knitted to form a fabric

Can be natural (plant or animal) or

man-made
Man-made fibers now account for over
of all textile production

Forensic Value
Are considered class evidence
Are common trace evidence at a
crime scene
Can be characterized based on
comparison of both physical and
chemical properties

Fiber Classification
Natural fibers are classified
according to their origin
Vegetable or cellulose
Animal or protein
Mineral

Some natural fibers can be altered

into artificial ones
Cotton and rayon
Rayon is chemically-altered cellulose

Chemical Alteration

Note the differences between the cotton

fiber (left) and rayon (right). Can you detect
what happens in the chemical transformation
process?

Fiber Evidence
Important characteristics
Type and length of fiber
Spinning method
Fabric construction

Above characteristics can greatly

affect transfer of fibers and
significance as evidence
Can originate from more than clothing
Furniture, upholstery, etc.

Fiber Evidence
Significance
Based upon clear relationships between
objects associated with crime
Relative value of evidence can be based
upon several factors
Type of fiber
Number of fibers
Color or variation of color
Location of fibers
Number of different fibers
Likelihood of transfer based on fiber
construction

Fiber Evidence
Useful in similar crimes to hairs
Since DNA is not found, often limited
to class characteristics due to mass
production
Transfer usually found through
physical contact
Routinely found in vehicle accidents
or on glass/screens

Animal Fibers
Silk
Technically a protein
secretion
No longer found in
nature
Among the most
expensive fibers
Fibers are altered by
changing diet of
silkworm
Does not resemble
typical non-human hair
Highly light reflective

Mineral Fibers
Fiberglass
Artificially produced
fiber

Asbestos
Natural fiber from
the mineral
serpentine

Plant Fibers
Cotton
Most common
plant fiber
Virtually worthless
as evidence if white
If dyed, the dye
is more valuable
than the cotton
Distinctive
twisted, ribbon-like
shape

Plant Fibers
Flax
Used to make linen
Distinctive lateral
structures through fiber
Can be expensive

Plant Fibers

Ramie fiber, common in SE

Asia
Hemp fiber, the strongest
natural fiber

Plant fibers are based on

the polymer cellulose, the
chemical that forms the
cell wall of plant cells

Jute fiber, also

common in Asia

Synthetic Fibers
First introduced in 1911 (rayon)
followed by nylon in 1939
Hundreds of names currently used for
essentially the same artificial fibers
Generally grouped into generic names
Example: Polyester - Sold under 28 different
names

Synthetic Fiber Chemistry

Based on polymers
Long chain molecules
Come in natural and man-made varieties
Synthetic polymers were first produced in
1909

Originally discovered by accident

When a glass rod was removed from contact
with polymer, it stretched and stuck to the
rod. It hardened when cooled and would
stretch into long filaments

Synthetic Fiber Chemistry

Polymers
Well known natural polymers
Starch
Cellulose - nature of polymer provided
structure to plants
Proteins - form animal hairs

Well known man-made polymers

Nylon
Teflon
Silicone
Vulcanized rubber

Synthetic Fiber Chemistry

Man-made polymers
Basic chemical substance of all artificial
fibers
Also include most paints, plastics,
adhesives, rubbers

Polymers are routinely formed from

thousands of individual atoms
Composed of repeating units called
monomers that link like chains

Synthetic Fiber Chemistry

Classic polymer structure of the synthetic fiber

nylon. Note the long chain of repeating atoms.

Synthetic Fibers
In spite of common names, practically
no two of the same type of fiber are
manufactured the same way all the
way through the production process
Positive ID almost always involves
microscopy and chemical analysis

Three different scanning electron

microscope images of nylon carpet fibers.
Note clear structural differences at this
magnification.

Synthetic Fiber Analysis

Identification and Comparison
Color
Based on introduced combinations of
dyes
Different dyes may identify manufacturer

Diameter
Typically very little variation due to
precise machinery
Cross section usually helpful as well

Production characteristics
Striations - almost always lengthwise
Pitting - occurs from particles added to Typical cross
fiber to reduce shine
section of
synthetic
carpet fibers.

Synthetic Fiber Analysis

Production method can be single largest
identifier
Cross sections are exceptionally important
Synthetic fibers are forced out of a nozzle when
they are hot
Holes of the nozzle are not always round

Synthetic Fiber Analysis

Burning
Chemistry of fibers can cause fiber to burn
in different ways
Odor, color of flame, smoke and the appearance
of the residue can also be an indicator

Thermal decomposition
Gently heating can break down polymers to
basic monomers

Chemical testing
Solubility and decomposition

Synthetic Fiber Analysis

Chemical composition
Most companies have different
formulas for product
Product fingerprint can be
determined if chemicals are
identified
Require spectroscopy

Fibers can also be melted

down into crystals and then
identified
Light reflectance will be different
for unique crystals
Known as crystallography

Common nylon
(above) and rayon
(below) fibers
under polarized
light

Synthetic Fiber Analysis

Spectroscopic analysis of two apparently identical

red, cotton fibers. Note the clear chemical
differences between the two dyes.