GLASS

Physical Properties

the forensic scientist must constantly determine

those properties that impart distinguishing
characteristics to matter, giving it a unique
identity.
properties are the identifying characteristics of
substances

physical properties describe a substance

without reference to any other substance
example: weight, volume, color, boiling
point, melting point
can
be measured for a particular
substance without altering the materials
composition
associated
only with the physical
existence of that substance

chemical properties describe the behavior of a

substance when it reacts or combines with
another substance
examples: - when wood burns, it combines
with oxygen in the air to form
new substances
- Marquis reagent turns purple
in the presence of heroin

Physical Properties

Temperature
- measure of heat intensity
- temperatures at which a substance melts or
boils are readily determinable by characteristics
that will help identify a substance
Weight and Mass
- weight: force with which gravity attracts a body
W = mg

- mass: amount of matter an object contains

Density
- most important physical property of matter with
respect to analysis
- mass per unit volume
- an intensive property of matter

Refractive Index
- refraction: bending of
light wave because of
change in velocity
= V of light in vacuum
V of light in medium
- example: at 25oC, RI of
water is 1.333.

Comparing Glass
Fragments

Glass that is broken and shattered into fragments

during the commission of a crime could be used
to place a suspect at the CS.
Glass a hard, brittle, amorphous substance that
is composed of silicon oxides mixed with various
metal oxides
= sand + metal oxides melted at high
temperature; cooled to a rigid condition without
crystallization

by adding Na2CO3 to the sand, melting point and

viscosity are both lowered making it easier to
work
sand + Na2CO3 + CaO = soda-lime glass
= used for manufacturing most window and
bottle glass
= common metal oxides: Na, Ca, Mg, Al

Special glass (substituting Si and other M.O.)

= automobile headlights and heat resistant
glass (Pyrex) uses boron oxide [borosilicates]
Tempered glass: made stronger by introducing
stress through rapid heating and cooling of the
glass surfaces
= when it breaks, it does not shatter but
fragments into small squares
= used in the side and rear windows (US)

Laminated glass: sandwiched one layer of plastic

between two ordinary window glass
= windshield (US)

FS problem: need to find and measure those

properties that will associate one glass fragment
with another while eliminating the existence of
other sources

density and refractive index are used

BUT,
these
properties
are
CHARACTERISTICS.

CLASS

Forensic analysis of glass

Physical, fracture matching

Best evidence, but very rare

Density determination
Float test
Results subjective

Refractive index (R.I.) determination

Chemical testing, destructive

Test for silicates, metal oxides, trace evidence

Density

Can be measured

m
D
v

Can be observed by placing in a density

tower

May not be the most accurate, subjective

Refractive index (R.I.)

measurement
Becke - immersion method
Emmons & Winchell - temp. variation
method
Saylor - double diaphragm contrast method
Oettle - phase contrast method

Refractive index
measurement
Refraction is the change of direction and/or
speed of light as it passes from one medium
to another
RI is a ratio of the speed of light between
two mediums (e.g. glass & oil)
RI is dependant on:

The wavelength of light

The temperature of the medium

RI measurement technique

RI of material varies with temp.

The change in RI for liquids is in the order of 10 -4
RI units
The change in RI for solids is in the order of 10 -6 RI
units
What does this mean?

When the temp. of a liquid is changed, the RI changes

rapidly, but the RI of an immersed solid will not

RI measurement technique
Silicon oil usually used
Oil is calibrated so RI can be determined
from its temp.
Sample glass is immersed in oil
Oil is heated/cooled to determine match
temp.

Glass disappears

Oil RI = Glass RI

RI measurement using
Becke line
Bright halo observed around glass when oil
has higher RI
Bright halo observed inside the edge of the
glass when oil has lower RI
When oil & glass = RI, glass disappears

Becke line

Glass has higher refractive index

Becke line

Glass has lower refractive index

Common liquid refractive

indices
Liquid
Ethyl acetate
n-butyl alcohol
Olive oil
Corn oil
Castor oil
Methyl salicylate
Clove oil
Canola oil

Refractive index
1.373
1.402
1.467
1.473
1.482
1.522
1.543
1.465-1.467

Glass Fracture Patterns

Two parts:
Radial
Concentric

Can tell direction of force from these

Determining direction of
force

Radial edge of glass

3 Rs
Radial

cracks have Right angles

on the Reverse side of applied force

Directionof
force

Concentric edge of glass

Directionof
force

Procedures in Analyzing
Glass
FLOTATION
a solid particles will either float, sink or remain
suspended in a liquid depending on its density
relative to the liquid medium
procedure: a standard/reference glass is
immersed in a liquid
composition of the liquid is carefully adjusted by
the addition of bromoform or bromobenzene until
the glass chip remains suspended

the standard/reference glass and liquid have the

same density
glass chips of approximately the same size and
shape as the SR are added to the liquid
if they both remain suspended, their densities are
equal to each other and the liquid
liquid is transferred to a density meter

IMMERSION METHOD
added comparison of refractive indices
procedure: glass particles are immersed in a
liquid medium whose refractive index is varied
until it is equal to that of the glass particles =
match point
you will note the disappearance of the Becke line

GLASS FRACTURES

glass bends in response to any force that is

exerted on any one of its surfaces
when the limit of elasticity is reached, the glass
fractures
fractured window glass reveal information that
can be related to the force and direction of
impact = useful in crime scene investigation

penetration of ordinary window glass by a

projectile (bullet or stone) produces a familiar
fracture pattern

radiating lines = radial fractures

circular lines = concentric fractures

it is difficult to determine just from size and shape

of a hole in glass whether it was made by a bullet
or some other projectile
high velocity projectile often leaves a round,
crater-shaped hole that is surrounded by
symmetrical pattern of radial and concentric
cracks

hole is wider on the exit side

but as the velocity of the penetrating projectile

decreases, the irregularity of the shape of the
hole and of its surrounding cracks increases
hole shape could no longer determine the
direction of impact

when a force pushes on one

side of a pane of glass, the
elasticity of the glass permits it
to bend in the direction of the
force applied
once elastic limit is exceeded,
the glass begins to crack
the first fractures form on the
surface opposite to the force

these first fractures develop

into radial lines
continued motion of the
force places tension on the
front surface of the glass
resulting
in
concentric
cracks

stress marks are shaped like arches that are

perpendicular to one glass surface and
curved nearly parallel to the opposite
surface
perpendicular edge always faces the surface
on which the crack originated

Radial cracks form a Right angle on the

Reverse side of the force

this could not be applied to broken tempered

glass

when there have been

successive penetrations,
it is possible to determine
the sequence of impact
A
fracture
always
terminates at an existing
line of fracture
LEFT
preceded
the
RIGHT