Columnar-Thin-Film-Assisted Visualization of Depleted Sebaceous Fingermarks on Nonporous Metals and Hard Plastics

• Stephanie F. Williams ^[1] ; Drew P. Pulsifer ^[1] ; Akhlesh Lakhtakia ^[1] ; Robert C. Shaler ^[1]
  1. [1] Pennsylvania State University

     Pennsylvania State University

     Borough of State College, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 60, Nº. 1, 2015, págs. 179-185
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • A fingermark on a nonporous substrate can be developed by depositing a columnar thin film (CTF) on it, but the CTF technique’s sensitivity for low-quality fingermarks is unknown. The optimized CTF and traditional development of several depletion series of sebaceous-loaded fingermarks were compared using a split-print methodology as well as subjective and objective grading schemes, in a limited laboratory trial. CTF development was superior to development with selected traditional techniques on brass, anodized aluminum, black acrylo- nitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and white nylon. On white ABS and black nylon, the CTF technique performed poorly but still as well as the best-performing traditional development technique. The CTF technique was more sensitive on brass and anodized aluminum than, and as sensitive on the four hard plastics and stainless steel as, the best-performing traditional technique. Thus, the CTF technique is useful to develop friction-ridge detail from limited fingermark residue on some smooth substrates.