Ridge Patterns of Blood-Transferred Simulated Fingerprints Observed on Fabrics via Steam Thermography

• NCJ Number: 255150
• Journal: Forensic Chemistry Volume: 1 Dated: August 2016 Pages: 74-77
• Author(s): Raymond G. Belliveau; Stephanie A. Dejong; Brianna M Cassidy; Zhenyu Lu; Stephen L. Morgan; Michael L. Myrick
• Date Published: August 2016
• Length: 4 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2011-IJ-CX-K055
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Multimode Imaging in the Thermal Infrared: Validation for Blood, Extension to Latent Prints

Annotation

This article reports on a project that used steam thermography to image ridge patterns of blood-transferred artificial fingerprints on acrylic, polyester and cotton fabrics.

Abstract

Microscale thermal imaging confirmed that the ridge pattern transfer occurred on the tops of the most prominent threads in weave. Prints were readily imaged on the more hydrophobic fabrics in both heat-up and cool-down phases of vapor exposure. On the more hydrophilic cotton fabric, ridge detail was obscured by the strong background response of the fabric to moisture. The project concluded that microscale thermography indicates that loose cotton strands with transferred blood may respond differentially to moisture relative to uncoated strands. (publisher abstract modified)