U4A Fiber Evidence in Forensics Investigation

Define fiber

The smallest indivisible unit of textile, it must be at least 100 times longer than wide

Define yarn

Fibers that have been spun together 

Define textile

A flexible, flat material made by interlacing yarns (or threads) by weaving or knitting

Define Warp

A lengthwise yarn or thread in a weave (up and down)

Define Weft

A crosswise yarn or thread in a weave (left and right)

Two main categories of fibers

Natural and Synthetic

Categories of Natural Fibers

Animal, Plant and Mineral

What fibers would be Natural?

Cotton, linen, wool, silk, coir

What Fibers would be Synthetic?

Polyester, nylon, acrylic, olefin

What evidence categories would Fiber be in?

Indirect, physical, class and trace evidence

What are the 4 techniques to analyze fibers?

UV Light, Microscope, Dyes and Burn Tests

What are two ways fibers are transferred?

Direct Transfer and Secondary Transfer

What is direct transfer?

Fibers are transferred from person or object to another person or object

What is a secondary transfer?

 Fibers are transferred from person or object who then transfers it to a second person

Explain how fiber transfer occurs using Locard’s Principle

Fibers are transferred from one person to another, which can reveal where someone was