Fibers are the building blocks of all fabrics and of all composite materials. A fiber is a material that has a cylindrical shape (or similar) whose cross-sectional area (the narrow dimension of the diameter) can reach from a few individual microns to several dozens of microns (a micron is the thousandth part of a millimeter). The textiles known to us from everyday life are comprised of fibers made of polymer materials containing additives and coloring agents.
The Institute of Forensic Science holds a unique ability to examine and compare fibers and textiles. The examination of fibers and textiles can provide answers to questions in the following areas:
- The type of fiber and the coloring agent – this subject is important for criminal investigations, in the area of damages and concerning questions about the material’s quality.
- The composition and quality of fabrics – a subject connected to the quality of products and the compliance with standards.
- The comparison between fibers and fabrics – This subject is of considerable significance for criminal investigations and the investigation of traffic accidents which involve pedestrians, as well as concerning the investigation of medical activities (malpractice) and cases of damages and intellectual property.
- The comparison of production and services sites – This subject concerns both the area of crime and security and the subject of intellectual property.
- Causes for defects and tears – The examination of defects and tears plays a significant role in criminal cases as well as in cases of damage and concerning the quality of products.