NCJ Number
164949
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 41 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1996) Pages: 1005-1011
Date Published
1996
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The analysis of thermally changed, e.g., melted, decomposed, burned, or incinerated textile fibers by FTIR (fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy is described.
Abstract
The identification of thermally changed fibers is of paramount importance in cases of arson, conflagration, and road accidents. Knowledge of changes in fibers under high temperatures can provide information about conditions in which such changes occur, and the nature of changes can analyzed to determine fiber morphology, physical properties, and chemical composition. A method is described to observe the pathway of fiber thermal degradation and to find chemical (organic and inorganic) compounds in degraded fibers. The method shows the identification of burned, melted, and decomposed fibers is often possible because many characteristics of original spectrum absorption bands are present in their infrared spectra. In the case of incinerated fibers, the identification of their mineral compounds is possible using FTIR. The authors conclude that the FTIR method can be applied in forensic analysis to identify and differentiate between thermally changed fibers. 14 references and 6 figures