FIBERS

Textiles
◦ A textile fiber is a unit of matter, either natural or manufactured,
that forms the basic element of fabrics and other textiles

◦ Fibers differ from each other in their chemical nature, cross-

sectional shape, surface contour, color, as well as length and
diameter
◦ Textile Fibers : Based on length - Filaments / Staple fiber
Yarns

◦ Yarn is a term for continuous strands of textile fibers, filaments,

or material in a form suitable for weaving, knitting, or otherwise entangling to
form a textile fabric;
◦ thread refers to the product used to join pieces of fabric together, typically by
sewing, whereas yarn is the product used to make fabric.
Yarns are
continuous strands
of textile fibers,
filaments,
or material in a
form suitable for
weaving, knitting,
or otherwise
entangling to form a
textile fabric. Yarns
can have an S-twist,
Z-twist, or zero
twist.
Fabric Construction
◦Fabric is a textile structure produced by interlacing yarns,
fibers, or filaments with a substantial surface area in
relation to its thickness.
◦Woven
◦Knitted
◦Non woven
How is Fiber Collected

◦ Vacuums

◦ Sticky Tape

◦ Forceps
1) What is its composition?
2) What is its color?
3) Is it common or rare?
4) How many fibers were found?
5) Where were the fibers found?
6) What type of textile did the fiber originate from? (carpet, clothing, upholstery, etc.)
7) How many different types of fibers were transferred?
The more sources of fibers, the longer or more violent the contact.
8) What type of crime was committed and does the amount of fiber transferred match with what would be
expected given the type and duration of contact?
9) How much time has passed between the crime and the discovery of fiber?
Polymer

Most substances are arranged in relatively small, discrete molecules

long chains of repeating molecular units -polymers

repeating units -monomers

Polystyrene is a common plastic and also a member of a
subclass of polymers called homopolymers
◦ Copolymers-Some polymers use two (or more) monomers to construct a

polymer

◦ Nylon-common types of nylon is nylon 66 –made by alternating monomers

◦block polymers -blocks of similar monomers that repeat
◦ideal for use as textile fibers

◦plastics, rubber, paints -polymer strands are cross-linked

textile Fibers

◦ Fibers can be very important evidence:

◦ They may be easily transferred
◦ There may be multiple transfers, thus helping determine how a
series of events occurred
◦ They are often produced with a specific end use in mind
◦ Fibers come in a huge variety of colors and thousands of dyes and
pigments are used to produce them
Types of Fibers

Natural Fibers
animals, plants, or minerals

Synthetic Fibers
manufactured from materials that are not fibers
Natural

◦ Natural fibers include those produced by plants, animals, and geological processes.
They are biodegradable

Animal Vegetable
Mineral
fiber fiber/Plant
fiber
Fiber
Animal fiber

◦ All animal fiber are proteins such as collagen, keratin and fibroin based
◦ SILK fiber is obtained from the cocoons of silkworms. The fiber is double
strands, smooth, and shiny. The fabric is lightweight but can keep its wearer
warm.
◦ WOOL fiber is obtained from sheep
◦ The fiber is stretchable long lasting, doesn't wrinkle and springs back into
shape
Vegetable fiber/plant fiber

◦ Cotton: appears as flat ribbons under microscope, slightly twisted

◦ Soft, absorbs water, wrinkles easily

◦ Linen: derived from stems of flax. Fiber is shiny, strong, gets softer with use,
absorbs water, wrinkles.
Synthetic fibers

◦ Man-made fibers or chemical fibers are fibers whose chemical composition,

structure, and properties are significantly modified during the manufacturing
process.
◦ Nylon
◦ Polyester
◦ Olefin
◦ Acetate
◦ Acrylic
◦ Spandex
◦ Fiberglass
◦ Rayon—Wood pulp
Synthetic fiber is classified into

Regenerated fibres (artificial fibres transformed from plant

cellulose into yarn)(modal )

Semi-synthetic fiber( rayon )

synthetic fiber(Metallic fibers

Carbon fiber, Fiberglass )
SYNTHETIC FIBERS

◦ RAYON is made from wood. The fibers are smooth and glass-like
rods, which is easily stretchable. Rayon doesn't wrinkle, is soft and
absorbent
◦ NYLON: derived from coal, crude oil(petroleum). Shiny, tough,
stretchable, melts under hot iron, doesn’t wrinkle.
◦ Polyester, Spandex
 Fiber Morphology
characteristics of fiber morphology:
◦ Type

Cotton Fibers
Wool Fibers
Flax Under Polarized Light
◦ Size -diameter from 10 to 50 μm or from 2 × 10–3 to 4 × 10–4 inches
◦ Naturally occurring fibers are measured in μm
◦ Synthetic fibers are measured in denier
◦ Cross-section: Carpet fibers are trilobal or bilobal
◦ Color -natural fibers are white or some shade of brown
◦ Fibers are colored by either dyeing them or printing a pattern directly onto the fabric.
An individual fiber that has been dyed will usually have a uniform appearance under a
microscope, whereas a fiber that has been printed may be uneven in color
◦ Crimp
Analysis of Synthetic Fibers
◦ Microscopy

Color

Length

Diameter

Cross Sectional
Chemical analysis of Fibers

◦ Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR)

◦ Pyrolysis gas chromatography (PyGC)

Interpretation of Fiber Evidence