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
                            Library & Multimedia
 Specific Heat Capacity Thermal Function of the Cyanoacrylate Fingerprint Development Process
NCJ Number
              227934

Author(s)
          David E. Weaver;
                        Charles A. Steele;
                        Andrew  Wheeler;
                        Gyansewor  Pokharel;
                        Mason A. Hines;
                        Sara  Farmer;
                        Jennifer  Basher
Date Published

2009
Length
              93 pages
Annotation
              In attempting to understand and improve the polymerization process of cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming in developing latent fingerprints on nonporous surfaces, this research focused on temperature and humidity variations of both the environment in which the fuming occurred as well as temperature variations on the evidence.
Abstract
              The study concluded that latent fingerprints on nonporous surfaces that are developed with cyanoacrylate fuming achieve a higher level of polymerization when the surface temperature of the evidence is lowered, although overdevelopment can occur if the substrate is too cold. The research confirmed the initial premise that the temperature of the substrate material during the fuming event, combined with the relative humidity is critical in obtaining the best possible fingerprint development. The research further confirmed that the specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the evidence substrate material guides the temperature parameters of the polymerization process involved with cyanoacrylate fuming. On identical materials with deposited latent fingerprints developed simultaneously but at different substrate temperatures, researchers found a substantial increase in polymerization that is easily observed visually and supported by measurable weight increases when the evidence is cooled to a temperature relative to the substrate's specific heat capacity. The weight variations shown in the data files support the visualization properties, which is the main concern of latent fingerprint examiners. Further research  with other substrate materials such as plastics and various metal alloys that were not included in the current testing will be required to narrow the temperature range specific to those materials; according to the findings of the current research, the temperature curve will follow the thermal conductivity profiles of common materials. A more focused study of the precise amount of relative humidity may result in increased sensitivity, but the current research shows that a range of 46 percent to 72 percent relative humidity is safe and conducive to cyanoacrylate polymerization on latent fingerprints. Extensive table and figures, and 12 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2007-DN-BX-K242


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        Electronic Fingerprint Development Device "Fuma-Room"
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2009
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Criminology
        Evidence
        Fingerprint detection techniques
        Fingerprint image quality
        Fingerprints



  
Similar Publications
        
                      White Paper – Electronic Death Registry In Medicolegal Death Investigation
                  White Paper – Information Sharing Between Medicolegal Death Investigation Offices And Organ And Tissue Recovery Organizations
                  3D Morphology of Blood Stain Can Provide Critical Information Missed In Standard Bloodstain Analysis
 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