Visualization of Latent Fingerprint Corrosion of Metallic Surfaces

doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00738.x

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Wiley InterScience

Journal of Forensic Sciences

Volume 53 Issue 4, Pages 812 - 822

Published Online: 9 May 2008

The official journal of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences

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Visualization of Latent Fingerprint Corrosion of Metallic Surfaces

John W. Bond, ¹ D.Phil.

¹ Scientific Support Unit, Northamptonshire Police, Wootton Hall, Northampton, England NN4 0JQ.

Correspondence to Additional information and reprint requests:
John W. Bond, D.Phil.
Scientific Support Unit
Northamptonshire Police
Wootton Hall
Northampton, NN4 OJQ
United Kingdom
E-mail: john.bond@northants.police.uk

¹ A glass fiber pencil is used for accurate abrading of a surface and has a propelling pencil action to expose more or less of the glass fibers—the shorter the fibers showing, the more abrasive the action.

KEYWORDS

forensic science • latent fingerprint • print visualization • metal surface

ABSTRACT

Abstract: Chemical reactions between latent fingerprints and a variety of metal surfaces are investigated by heating the metal up to temperatures of ∼600°C after deposition of the fingerprint. Ionic salts present in the fingerprint residue corrode the metal surface to produce an image of the fingerprint that is both durable and resistant to cleaning of the metal. The degree of fingerprint enhancement appears independent of the elapsed time between deposition and heating but is very dependent on both the composition of the metal and the level of salt secretion by the fingerprint donor. Results are presented that show practical applications for the enhancement to fingerprints deposited in arson crime scenes, contaminated by spray painting, or deposited on brass cartridge cases prior to discharge. The corrosion of the metal surface is further exploited by the demonstration of a novel technique for fingerprint enhancement based on the electrostatic charging of the metal and then the preferential adherence of a metallic powder to the corroded part of the metal surface.

Received 24 Feb. 2007; and in revised form 7 July 2007; accepted 28 July 2007.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00738.x About DOI