The transfer and persistence of small fragments of polyurethane foam onto clothing

Abstract

The transfer and persistence of microscopic size pieces of polyurethane foam onto clothing was studied. Experiments were conducted to try to replicate the transfer of polyurethane foam fragments from a foam mattress and a vehicle seat onto a victim's clothing. This was done with a view to providing information about the elapsed time between her leaving the vehicle and meeting her death. Although only a limited amount of work has been carried out, it has been shown that whilst relatively high numbers of foam fragments are initially transferred many fall off quickly. As this project was carried out in response to a specific casework request most of the experiments were performed using cotton material as the recipient. The results obtained are remarkably similar to some of the work carried out by Pounds and Smalldon in 1975 on the transfer and persistence of fibres in relation to clothing. Le transfert et la persistance de fragments microscopiques de mousse polyurCthane sur les habits ont CtC CtudiCs. Des expCriences ont CtC conduites pour tenter de reproduire le transfert de fragments de mousse polyurCthane h partir d'un matelas de mousse et d'un sikge de vChicule sur les habits d'une victime. Cela a CtC fait dans le but d'obtenir une information sur le temps CcoulC entre le moment ou elle a quittC le vChicule et sa mort. Bien que le travail ait CtC limitC, il a CtC possible de montrer qu'alors qu'un grand nombre de fragments de mousse sont initialement transfCrCs, beaucoup tombent rapidement. Comme ce projet a CtC ClaborC pour repondre h une question dCcoulant d'un cas spCcifique, la plupart des exptriences ont CtC faites en utilisant du coton comme matihe rkceptrice. Les rCsultats obtenus sont remarquablement similaires aux recherches poursuivies par Pounds et Smalldon en 1975 sur le transfert et la persistance des fibres sur les habits.