Forced Condensation of Cyanoacrylate With Temperature Control of the Evidence Surface To Modify Polymer Formation and Improve Fingerprint Visualization

• NCJ Number: 239118
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 62 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2012 Pages: 335-348
• Author(s): Charles A. Steele; Mason Hines; Lara Rutherford; Andrew W. Wheeler
• Date Published: August 2012
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research program has identified a controlled micro-crystalline structure modification of the polymer formation specific to latent fingerprints.

Abstract

Tests involving temperature control of both the cyanoacrylate fuming environment and the evidence surface performed at Mountain State University Forensics Program, Beckley, WV, have identified conditions to improve the visualization of fingerprints. Proper temperature controls resulted in increased cyanoacrylate deposition, modification of the pseudo-crystalline structure, and increased contrast. This research program has identified a controlled micro-crystalline structure modification of the polymer formation specific to latent fingerprints. The poly-ethylcyanoacrylate polymer structure can be controlled to yield a much more visible form due to the crystalline structure under these temperature-controlled environments. This research also empirically suggests that the forced condensation of the cyanoacrylate deposition follows a specific heat capacity linear curve based on the evidence material type. Different material types have demonstrated this phenomenon in controlled temperature tests, and the authors forecast that the polymer deposition could be forced to behave in certain ways based on the type of evidence material with temperature control of the evidence surface. (Published Abstract)