Nano-scale composition of commercial white powders for development of latent fingerprints on adhesives

B. J. Jones; A. J. Reynolds; M. Richardson; V. G. Sears

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2009.08.001

Nano-scale composition of commercial white powders for development of latent fingerprints on adhesives

B. J. Jones^*, A. J. Reynolds, M. Richardson, V. G. Sears

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Titanium dioxide based powders are regularly used in the development of latent fingerprints on dark surfaces. For analysis of prints on adhesive tapes, the titanium dioxide can be suspended in a surfactant and used in the form of a powder suspension. Commercially available products, whilst having nominally similar composition, show varying levels of effectiveness of print development, with some powders adhering to the background as well as the print. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and laser particle sizing of the fingerprint powders show TiO₂ particles with a surrounding coating, tens of nanometres thick, consisting of Al and Si rich material, with traces of sodium and sulphur. Such aluminosilicates are commonly used as anti-caking agents and to aid adhesion or functionality of some fingerprint powders; however, the morphology, thickness, coverage and composition of the aluminosilicates are the primary differences between the white powder formulations and could be related to variation in the efficacy of print development.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	150-155
Number of pages	6
Journal	Science and Justice
Volume	50
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2009.08.001
Publication status	Published - Sep 2010
Externally published	Yes

Access to Document

10.1016/j.scijus.2009.08.001

40 Citations
1 Chapter

Microscopy in forensic science
Jones, B. J., 17 Sep 2019, Springer handbook of microscopy. Hawkes, P. W. & Spence, J. C. H. (eds.). Cham: Springer, p. 1507-1523 17 p. (Springer Handbooks).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Open Access
File
1 Citation (Scopus)

2 Downloads (Pure)

Cite this

@article{02bbccee95d44bc9a33f484f55f7d73f,

title = "Nano-scale composition of commercial white powders for development of latent fingerprints on adhesives",

abstract = "Titanium dioxide based powders are regularly used in the development of latent fingerprints on dark surfaces. For analysis of prints on adhesive tapes, the titanium dioxide can be suspended in a surfactant and used in the form of a powder suspension. Commercially available products, whilst having nominally similar composition, show varying levels of effectiveness of print development, with some powders adhering to the background as well as the print. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and laser particle sizing of the fingerprint powders show TiO2 particles with a surrounding coating, tens of nanometres thick, consisting of Al and Si rich material, with traces of sodium and sulphur. Such aluminosilicates are commonly used as anti-caking agents and to aid adhesion or functionality of some fingerprint powders; however, the morphology, thickness, coverage and composition of the aluminosilicates are the primary differences between the white powder formulations and could be related to variation in the efficacy of print development.",

author = "Jones, {B. J.} and Reynolds, {A. J.} and M. Richardson and Sears, {V. G.}",

year = "2010",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.scijus.2009.08.001",

language = "English",

volume = "50",

pages = "150--155",

journal = "Journal of the Forensic Science Society",

issn = "1355-0306",

publisher = "Forensic Science Society",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Nano-scale composition of commercial white powders for development of latent fingerprints on adhesives

AU - Jones, B. J.

AU - Reynolds, A. J.

AU - Richardson, M.

AU - Sears, V. G.

PY - 2010/9

Y1 - 2010/9

N2 - Titanium dioxide based powders are regularly used in the development of latent fingerprints on dark surfaces. For analysis of prints on adhesive tapes, the titanium dioxide can be suspended in a surfactant and used in the form of a powder suspension. Commercially available products, whilst having nominally similar composition, show varying levels of effectiveness of print development, with some powders adhering to the background as well as the print. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and laser particle sizing of the fingerprint powders show TiO2 particles with a surrounding coating, tens of nanometres thick, consisting of Al and Si rich material, with traces of sodium and sulphur. Such aluminosilicates are commonly used as anti-caking agents and to aid adhesion or functionality of some fingerprint powders; however, the morphology, thickness, coverage and composition of the aluminosilicates are the primary differences between the white powder formulations and could be related to variation in the efficacy of print development.

AB - Titanium dioxide based powders are regularly used in the development of latent fingerprints on dark surfaces. For analysis of prints on adhesive tapes, the titanium dioxide can be suspended in a surfactant and used in the form of a powder suspension. Commercially available products, whilst having nominally similar composition, show varying levels of effectiveness of print development, with some powders adhering to the background as well as the print. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and laser particle sizing of the fingerprint powders show TiO2 particles with a surrounding coating, tens of nanometres thick, consisting of Al and Si rich material, with traces of sodium and sulphur. Such aluminosilicates are commonly used as anti-caking agents and to aid adhesion or functionality of some fingerprint powders; however, the morphology, thickness, coverage and composition of the aluminosilicates are the primary differences between the white powder formulations and could be related to variation in the efficacy of print development.

U2 - 10.1016/j.scijus.2009.08.001

DO - 10.1016/j.scijus.2009.08.001

M3 - Article

C2 - 20709276

AN - SCOPUS:77955665723

VL - 50

SP - 150

EP - 155

JO - Journal of the Forensic Science Society

JF - Journal of the Forensic Science Society

SN - 1355-0306

IS - 3

ER -

Nano-scale composition of commercial white powders for development of latent fingerprints on adhesives

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Microscopy in forensic science

Cite this