Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT This study explores the forensic potential of thermal damage traces on clothing fibers to identify arsonist. Seven common fiber materials, including cotton, linen, wool, silk, PET, nylon, and/or their blended fabrics, were picked and their thermal properties were analyzed first. A cone calorimeter, the internationally recognized standard heat resource, was applied to simulate transient high‐temperature conditions similar to those in arson cases. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that silk (270°C), wool (280°C) and cotton (280°C) entered the thermal decomposition stage first, followed by cotton–linen blends (320°C), with the synthetic fibers PET and nylon decomposed from 370°C and 400°C, respectively. Up to 450°C, all fabrics have experienced a mass loss over 50%. Macroscopic and microscopic observations (scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) showed that distinct thermal damage characteristics formed on each kind of fabrics after heating. Cotton fabric began to discolor at around 280°C, with cotton fiber presenting rupture traces due to thermal decomposition observed at 320°C. Similarly, cotton–linen fabric exhibited discoloration at around 320°C, with fiber ruptured due to thermal decomposition at 340°C. Silk fabric began to discolor at around 225°C, with carbonization traces detected by both macroscopically and SEM after heating at 310°C. Wool fabric showed discoloration and shrinkage at about 320°C, with fiber curling, cracking, wrinkling, and expansion observed microscopically. Polyester and polyester–cotton fabrics exhibited wrinkling and shrinkage at around 175°C, with fiber melting at 225°C distinguished microscopically. Nylon fabric showed wrinkling and shrinkage at around 225°C, with fiber melting observed via SEM. This analysis on thermal damage traces offers crucial forensic evidence to determine suspects' proximity to fire, aiding in arson investigations.
Source: Fire and Materials
DOI: 10.1002/fam.3296
Authors: Peibin Wang, Zhengzhe Zang, Jing Jin, Yuhang Jiang, Zixin Li, Jinzhuan Zhang
Institution: China People's Police University
Language: English
Subfield: Polymers and Plastics
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G4708252368, G569858592
OpenAlex ID: W4409276431