The Transfer of Textile Fibres During Simulated Contacts

The transfer of fibres to and from clothing typical of that encountered in cases submitted to Scottish Forensic Science Laboratories was studied. Contact was simulated by hand- or machine-applied pressure to patches of materials removed from garments. Increasing the pressure of the contact increased the number of fibres transferred, but not continuously. The number of fibres transferred on each occasion fell with successive contacts irrespective of the fibre type in donor and recipient, although in general polyester/viscose recipients both transferred and retained fewer fibres than did other donor and recipient fabrics. Polyester and viscose fibres were transferred in relative numbers close to the ratio of these types in donor fabric and with a size distribution independent of the nature of the recipient. These observations extend but differ slightly from those previously reported.