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.