Polymers on the Crime Scene .................................................................. 105
4.1 Textile Fibres ...................................................................................... 105
4.1.1 A Classifi cation of Fibres ..................................................... 106
4.1.2 Technological Requirements for Textile Fibres ................... 107
4.1.3 Transfer and Persistence of Fibres ....................................... 108
4.1.4 Recovery of Fibres ............................................................... 109
4.1.5 The Characterisation of Textile Fibres ................................. 111
4.2 Paints .................................................................................................. 113
4.2.1 The Composition of Paints ................................................... 11
4.2.2 Automotive Paints .............................................................. 118
4.2.3 Recovery and Sampling of Paints ...................................... 119
4.2.4 The Characterisation of Paint Evidence............................. 121
4.3 Adhesive Tapes ................................................................................ 122
4.3.1 The Composition of Adhesive Tapes ................................. 123
4.3.2 Recovery and Sampling of Adhesive Tapes....................... 124
4.3.3 The Characterisation of Adhesive Tape ............................. 125
4.4 Rubber Gloves ................................................................................. 128
4.4.1 The Manufacturing of Rubber Gloves ............................... 129
4.4.2 Recovery and Handling of Gloves ..................................... 130
4.4.3 Characterisation of Latex Gloves....................................... 131
4.5 Tyre Rubber Traces .......................................................................... 132
4.5.1 Manufacturing of Tyres ..................................................... 132
4.5.2 Sampling of Tyre Rubber Traces ....................................... 134
4.5.3 Characterisation of Tyre Rubber Traces ............................ 135
4.6 Condom Lubricants ......................................................................... 136
4.6.1 The Composition of Condoms and Lubricants .................. 137
4.6.2 Collection and Handling of Condom-Related Traces ........ 138
4.6.3 The Characterisation of Condom-Related Traces .............. 138
4.7 Foam Fragments .............................................................................. 141
4.7.1 The Composition of Foams................................................ 142
4.7.2 Collection and Handling of Foam Traces .......................... 144
4.7.3 Characterisation of Foam Traces ....................................... 144
4.8 Plastic Bags ...................................................................................... 147
4.8.1 Composition of Plastic Bags .............................................. 148
4.8.2 Sampling and Handling of Plastic Films ........................... 148
4.8.3 Characterisation of Plastic Films ....................................... 148
4.9 Polymers in Documents: Paper and Toner ....................................... 149
4.9.1 Paper .................................................................................. 150
4.9.2 Toner .................................................................................. 152
4.10 Post-fi re Traces ................................................................................ 153
4.10.1 The Identification of Pyrolysis Products in Fire Debris ..... 153
4.10.2 Post-fire Materials Identifi cation ....................................... 155
References ................................................................................................... 157