U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Development of Microscopical Methods for the Systematic Analysis of Chemically Reacted, Improvised Low Explosives and Related Residues
Award Information
Awardee
              MCCRONE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Award #
              2019-DU-BX-0047
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    CHICAGO, IL
Congressional District
              7
Status
              Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
              2019
Total funding (to date)
              $157,863
Original Solicitation
              Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, FY 2019
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2019, $157,863)
Commercially available and homemade black powders, black powder substitutes, fireworks/pyrotechnics, smokeless powders, flash powders, and other improvised explosive ingredients are common constituents in homemade and improvised chemical explosive devices. Although microscopy is often mentioned, there exists no common methodology or systematic approach available to the forensic scientist for the analysis of the resulting residues after such a low-order explosion or chemical reaction using these types of ingredients occurs. Because any energetic event is likely to produce debris with varying degrees of chemically reacted, charred, combusted, partially combusted, oxidized, reduced, and deflagrated ingredients, particles comprised of microscopic chemical substances remain as combustion product residue and ash. This research will use a microscopical approach to investigate the particles and residues resulting from the controlled burning and ashing of small quantities of chemically reacted samples of black powder, black powder substitute, fireworks/pyrotechnics, flash powder, and smokeless powders formulations. The samples will be obtained from existing reference collections and obtained through readily available commercial suppliers of ingredients frequently encountered in improvised low explosive devices. Stereomicroscopy (SM) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) together with microchemical tests will be used with the goal of developing methods or procedures that will also satisfy a basic scientific need: to sufficiently determine a chemical substances identity with near absolute certainty as the existing analytical techniques permit. The research will integrate a time-tested and proven microscopical approach used by McCrone Research Institute in Chicago to perform analyses, research, educate the forensic science community, and integrate its own systematic approach to particle analysis and identification like that presented in its many publications including, The Particle Atlas and The Microscope journal together with, for example, the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Explosives published methods, Spot Tests: Systematic Analysis of Low Explosives (revised, 1988), and others currently utilized by various U.S. forensic science crime laboratories.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14).
CA/NCF

  
Date Created: September 16, 2019
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Exploring Officer Patrol Behaviors Using Automated Vehicle Locator and Body-Worn Camera Data in Kansas City, Missouri
                  Evaluating the reliability and accuracy of multiple geophysical methods in the search for clandestine graves
                  Meeting National Safety Council Recommendations: Accurate Rapid Tests and Laboratory Confirmation Procedures for Fentanyl and Prevalent Opioids in Oral Fluid
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov