Fiber and Textile Evidence

Ms Clark
PVMHS

 Fibers are used in forensic science to

create a link between crime and
suspect

 If fibers from one persons

clothing were found on a murder
victim, does this evidence prove
that this person committed the
crime?
Why or why not?

 Example:
A thief owns a jacket made of a
material that happens to match the
type of fiber found at the crime
scene.
This does not mean that he was there,
but a jacket like his was.

 Example:
A thief owns a jacket made of a
material that happens to match the
type of fiber found at the crime
scene.
This does not mean that he was there,
but a jacket like his was.

If a jacket fiber, sock fiber, and

shirt fiber all from the items the
thief owns are found at the crime
scene, then the chances they were
present are higher or increased.

What type of evidence are

fibers?

Trace evidence?
Direct or circumstantial?
Class or Individual?
Physical or Biological?

What type of evidence are

fibers?
Trace evidence?
Yes

Direct or circumstantial?
Class or Individual?
Physical or Biological?

Fiber Transfer
Direct transfer
Fibers transferred directly from victim to
suspect or suspect to victim

Secondary transfer
Victim picks up fibers, then transfers
them to suspect
Fibers are transferred from original
source to suspect and then to the victim
or crime scene

Fiber Transfer
Example of direct transfer
Fiber from suspects shirt transfers onto
victim

Example of secondary transfer

Fiber from carpet at suspects home
transfers onto his shirt, then transfers
onto victim

Fiber Collection
Early collection is critical
Within 24 hours, an estimated 95% of all
fibers may have fallen from a victim or
been lost from a crime scene

Only collect fibers that are

unexpected
Ex: Victim has a pink carpet at home,
dont collect pink fibers

Considerations by Forensic
Scientists
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Type of fiber
Fiber color
Number of fibers found
Where fiber was found
Type of crime committed
Time between crime and discovery
of fiber

 Using your book, elaborate on each

of these considerations and add to
your notes additional questions to
follow up these initial considerations.

Fiber Collection
Special vacuums
Sticky tape
Forceps
Important to be very accurate in
recording where fibers were found
Incomplete or inaccurate recording may
cause evidence to be inadmissible in
court

Fiber Analysis
Identify type of fiber and
characteristics
Color, shape

Match to fibers from a suspect

source (car, home)
If only one fiber is obtained, only
tests that will not damage or
alter the fiber can be used
Polarizing light microscopy, infrared
spectroscopy

Fiber Analysis
Polarizing Light Microscopy
Allows scientist to observe fiber at
specific wavelengths

Infrared spectroscopy
Emits a beam that bounces off the
material then returns
How the beam of light has changed
reveals details of the chemical structure
of the fiber

Fiber Analysis
If large quantities are obtained, some
fibers may be subjected to simple,
but destructive testing
Burning in flame
Dissolving in liquid

 Textiles

Fiber Types

Most common form of fiber transfer

Clothing, carpets, upholstery
Constructed by weaving yarns
Arranging lengthwise threads (the warp)
then weaving crosswise threads (the weft)
into different patterns
This is called the weave pattern
Types of weave patterns: tabby, twill,
satin

Weave patterns
Using page 86 in your book, fill out
your weave patterns table.
Draw a diagram of each one

Fiber Types
Yarns
Made up of fibers that have been spun
together
Twist direction is used as part of
identification

Fiber Classification
Natural fibers
Come from animals, plants, minerals

Synthetic fibers
Man-made fibers

Natural Fibers
Animal fibers
3 sources: hair, fur, webbing
Made of proteins
Ex: Fur coats, wool from sheep used in
textiles, silk

Plant fibers
Specialized plant cells
Sources: seeds, fruits, stems, leaves
Made of cellulose
Ex: Cotton

Plant Fibers
Seed fibers
Cotton is found at the seed of the cotton plant

Fruit fibers
Coir is a coarse fiber obtained from the covering of
coconuts

Stem fibers
Hemp, flax
Flax is most common found in linen

Leaf fibers
Manila is a fiber extracted from abaca leaves (relative of
banana tree)
Other leaf fibers used to make ropes, twines, netting

Natural Fibers
Mineral fibers
Fiberglass
Asbestos

Synthetic (man-made)
Fibers
Regenerated fibers (modified natural fibers)
Derived from cellulose
Mostly plant in origin
Ex. Rayon

Polymer fibers
Originate from petroleum products
Easy to distinguish between synthetic fibers in
lab
Ex: Polyester (found in fleece, wrinkle resistant
clothes), Nylon, Acrylic (imitation wool), Olefins
(thermal socks and carpets)

Natural vs Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic fibers are stronger than
natural fibers
Synthetic fibers are not damaged by
microorganisms
Synthetic fibers can deteriorate in
sunlight
Synthetic fibers melt at lower
temperatures than natural fibers

Appearances of Common Fibers

under Microscope
Using page 84, determine what fiber
each characteristic belongs to. Copy
it down in your table.

Summary
Class evidence and trace evidence
Scientists try to determine type of
fiber, its color, how many if each
fiber were found, what textile the
fiber came from, whether there were
transfers of multiple types of fibers
May be gathered using special
vacuums, sticky tape, or tweezers

Summary
Analyzed using polarizing light microscopy,
infrared spectroscopy, burn tests, solubility
tests
May be natural or synthetic
Natural: animal hair, plant fibers from seeds,
fruit, stems, or leaves, and mineral fibers
Synthetic: Regenerated or modified natural
fibers and polymer fibers
Spun into yarns with specific characteristics
Yarns are woven into textiles with different
patterns