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                            Library & Multimedia
 Use of Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) Methods for the Analysis of Small Particles Adhering to Carpet Fiber Surfaces as a Means to Test Associations of Trace Evidence in a Way That is Independent of Manufactured Characteristics
NCJ Number
              239051

Author(s)
          David A. Stoney, Ph.D.;
                        Paul L. Stoney, M.B.A.
Date Published

June 2012
Length
              77 pages
Annotation
              This project developed and tested an innovative instrumental trace-evidence approach for the recovery and quantitative analysis of very small particles (VSP) that adhere to carpet fibers.
Abstract
              VSP, which can be smaller than conventional trace evidence, are virtually ignored by forensic science. The project developed methods for quantitatively removing VSP from carpet fibers and prepare them for analysis by SEM/EDS (scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy); and it used existing computer-assisted SEM/EDS method for testing whether the resulting VSP profiles are useful in quantitatively associating shed fibers with a source carpet. The study demonstrated the regular occurrence of hundreds to thousands of VSP on individual carpet fibers. The quantity and character of VSP was sufficient to associate fibers with their carpet area of origin. The findings led to a rejection of the hypothesis that there is a strictly quantitative relationship among VSP, as measured using environmental particle profiles. Environmental particle profiles were found to be unsuitable for assessing VSP variability. An alternative method was developed based on target particle types (TPTs) defined by their elemental profiles, which were measured by computer-assisted SEM/EDS. Within-carpet and between-carpet variations showed an approximately even distribution for most TPTs, and between-carpet variations showed a wide range in types and quantities of VSP. The usefulness VSP in linking carpet fiber evidence has been established. There is now an achievable potential to use VSP for independent, quantitative testing of the common origin of carpet fibers. There is a set of follow-up research steps that have been outlined and ready to be undertaken. 34 tables and 32 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2010-DN-BX-K244


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        Use of Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) Methods for the Analysis of Trace Evidence
    
  
  
Date Published: June 1, 2012
    
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