Arson cases involve the collection and interpretation of a variety of evidence. Though some analysis such as the identification of accelerants has been heavily researched and tested, other areas have limited research and need to be addressed. The goal of this research is to assess the damage various fabric types face when exposed to high temperatures, open flames, and various chemicals. To answer this question I exposed polyester, cotton, nylon, spandex as well as polyurethane coated nylon and polyester to temperatures up to 300°C, open flame, gasoline, and bleach. The color, damage, and type of damage were assessed and reported. The synthetic fabric category showed considerable resistance to dye loss when exposed to the stimuli above and melted when exposed to high temperature and open flame. Cotton, a natural fiber, showed signs of color loss in all tests aside from gasoline exposure. Additionally, when exposed to high temperature and open flame, cotton would dehydrate, discolor, and char. To improve the assessment of fabrics in arson related cases it is necessary to create a uniform understanding of how various fabric and fibers respond to various exposures.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/46313 |
| Date | 09 June 2023 |
| Creators | Rice, Dawn Marie |
| Contributors | Hall, Adam B. |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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