Co-Polymerization of Sublimation Dyes and Expanding the Micro-Crystalline Vapors of Cyanoacrylate in Fingerprint Development

• NCJ Number: 227937
• Author(s): David E. Weaver
• Date Published: 2009
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2006-DN-BX-K037
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This paper reports on research that attempted to co-polymerize sublimation dyes with cyanoacrylate (CN) for latent-fingerprint development that is visible with ultraviolet (UV), alternate light source (ALS), and room light color; and it also attempted to expand the micro-crystalline vaporization of liquid cyanoacrylate and sodium hydroxide cellulose pads.

Abstract

The testing of sublimation dyes in the new Fuma-Dome system (provides for a sublimation heat device as well as an enclosed chamber to concentrate the CN and sublimation dyes for rapid fingerprint development on any nonporous surface) has produced interesting results. Researchers have also achieved injection of the CN vapor and Yellow 43 into standard fingerprint development chambers. Subsequently, three U.S. patents have been filed for the various configurations of dye blends, and researchers are continuing to refine the product CN-Yellow. The study is finding significant variance in the families of the other dye materials, with sometimes very specific polymerization at the fingerprint ridge site, but nothing as specific and robust as the Yellow 43. Thus far in the research, three families of dyes are co-polymerizing with variable specificity. One particular dye, a red subliming dye called 247, gave instant and prolific results and co-polymerization with the CN. Currently, one researcher is developing line blends with varying ratios of Red 247 and the twitchell de-dusting oil in hopes of duplicating and improving on the initial success. The original 247 dye batch preferentially adhered to the fingerprint ridge site in contrast to most other red dyes tested, which avoided the fingerprint entirely and provided a reverse development of the fingerprints by completely coloring the background of the nonporous test tile. In the second branch of the research, various chemistries are being tested in order to advance and optimize the microcrystalline vapor of the Press and Fume Device generation. 10 figures