FIBERS

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
From Animals:
Wool- naturally made, absorbs moisture, ignites at high temperatures only.
Silk- naturally made, is resistant to most acids expect for sulfuric acid which dissolves it, and chlorine bleach destroys it.
From Plants:
Cotton- a natural cellulose fiber, decomposes hen exposed to temperatures at about 300 F.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Rope- rough, multicolored, usually looks grainy.
Cotton- smooth, usually white.
String- smooth, multicolored.
Carpet- rough, multicolored, looks grainy.

FIBER ANALYST

• Fibers at a crime scene are gathered by tweezers, tape of a vacuum.
• The fibers gathered are generally rom clothing, drapery, wigs, carpeting, furniture, and blankets.
• The first thing for analysts to look for is whether not the fibers is manufactured, natural or a mixture of both.
• To determine shape and color of the fibers, microscopic examinations are made.
• There are different types of microscopes may be required for the identification process.

FIBER ANALYST CON.

• The compound microscope uses a light to reflect from the surface of the fiber through a series of lenses.
• The comparison microscope allows one to identify the fiber precisely.
• The various electron microscope reflects electrons off the surface.
• The phase-contrast reveals the structure of the fiber.
• Basically, a fiber analyst compares shape, dye content, size, chemical composition, and microscopic appearance.

CASE STUDY: WAYNE WILLIAMS
Wayne Williams was accused of killing more than 25 African-Americans about 9 years and up. On almost all of the victim's clothing, there were some of kind of fiber thread. The analysts isolated two distinct type of fiber, a violet colored acetate fiber and a coarse yellow-green nylon fiber. Days later the police set up a stakeout near a river and saw Wayne Williams toss a body out of the car. The police got a search warrant to search his house and car. Wayne Williams house had yellow-green carpet. It was a match with the samples collected from the victims bodies.

Works Cited
"Characteristics." Characteristics. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
"Cotton - Facts and General Information from Swicofil." Cotton - Facts and General Information from Swicofil. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
Ramsland, Katherine. "Trace Evidence." Fibers and Probability Theory — — Crime Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
"Textile Learner." Physical and Chemical Properties of Silk Fiber -. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
"Trace Evidence." Fiber Analysis — — Crime Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.