FIBER BASICS
This is the definition of a fiber in forensic science.
What is the smallest unit of a textile material?
Wool fibers come from this type of animal.
What is a sheep?
Polyester and nylon belong to this fiber category.
What are synthetic fibers?
The simplest and most common weave pattern.
What is a plain weave?
This tool is most commonly used to compare fibers.
What is a comparison microscope?
Fibers fall into these two main classifications.
What are natural and synthetic fibers?
Cotton fibers have this characteristic shape under a microscope.
What is a twisted ribbon shape?
Synthetic fibers are made from this general source.
What are petroleum-based chemicals?
This weave pattern is used in denim and has diagonal ridges.
What is a twill weave?
A burn test helps determine this about a fiber.
What is whether it is natural or synthetic?
This type of evidence fibers are considered—class or individual?
What is class evidence?
Silk comes from this insect.
What is a silkworm?
Acrylic fiber is often used as a replacement for this natural fiber.
What is wool?
In this type of weave, the surface appears shiny because long threads “float” over others.
What is a satin weave?
Infrared spectroscopy can identify these details in synthetic fibers.
What are chemical structures or polymer types?
The way a fiber is transferred from clothing during contact is known as this.
What is fiber transfer?
This natural fiber is known for being very smooth and almost glassy under the microscope.
What is silk?
The uniform diameter of synthetic fibers comes from this part of the manufacturing process.
What is extrusion through a spinneret?
The direction the yarns run in a woven fabric (warp and weft) is called this.
What is the grain?
This destructive test can show how a fiber melts, burns, or reacts to heat.
What is a flame test or burn test?
The number one reason fibers are useful in forensics.
What is they easily transfer and rarely stay in place permanently?
This plant-based natural fiber is used to make linen.
What is flax?
Many synthetic fibers have these special cross-sectional shapes such as trilobal or round.
What are engineered cross-sections?
The term for how tightly the threads are packed in a textile.
What is thread count or weave density?
This light-based method helps determine the refractive index of a fiber.
What is polarized light microscopy?