Shattered: Forensic Glass Analysis

What is Glass? “An inorganic product of fusion which has cooled to a rigid condition without crystallizing” Uniform amorphous solid No specific m.p. Softens over a temperature range

'Ordinary' sheet glass -made by passing the molten glass through rollers; process gives an almost flat finish but with distortions. -glass is used in glazing greenhouses and garden sheds where the visual distortions do not matter. Float glass (plate) Float glass gets its name from the method of production used to manufacture it. -molten glass is 'floated' onto a bed of molten tin -produces a glass which is flat and distortion free -process imparts a fluorescence to the glass [UV light]

Rolled Glass Float Glass Float Glass Process Annealing is a process where glass is heated to remove stress and make it more resistant to breakage. Float Glass Process

Toughened (Safety glass) -glass is produced by applying a special treatment to ordinary float glass after it has been cut to size and finished. -treatment involves heating the glass so that it begins to soften (about 620 C) and then rapidly cooling it. -produces a glass which, if broken, breaks into small pieces without sharp edges. Laminated glass -glass is made up of a sandwich of two or more sheets of glass (or plastic), bonded together by a flexible, normally transparent material. -if cracked or broken, the flexible material is designed to hold the glass fragments in place. Windshield glass is often laminated.

What’s in Glass? Network Components-Formers: SiO2, B2O3, P2O5, GeO2, V2O5, As2O3, Sb2O5 Fluxes–Softeners [lowers melting point]: Na2O, K2O, LiO, Al2O3, B2O3, Cs2O Stabilizers–Chemical/Corrosion Resistance: CaO, MgO, Al2O3, PbO, SrO, BaO, ZnO, ZrO Notice that the network components are covalent compounds. The softeners and stabilizers are ionic compounds.

Major Types and Uses Soda lime silicate glass SiO2 + Na2O / K2O + CaO / Al2O3 / MgO Flat glass, container glass, electric light bulbs Borosilicate glass > 5% B2O3 (replaces Na2O) Lab glassware, thermometers, cookware, sealed-beam headlights Borosilicate glass is resistant to breakage even at high temperatures.

Aluminosilicate glass Higher percentage of aluminum higher temperatures than borosilicate Aluminoborosilicate – 50:50 Al/B Labware, cookware, and glass fibers Lead alkali silicate (leaded glass) Up to 80% PbO high refractive index “Crystal” tableware,

Different glasses-domestic windows, car headlamps, light bulb glass-are produced differently from different chemistries. They can be chemically and physically analyzed to determine their use.

Forensic Individualization of Glass Flat Glass–Soda lime silicate -Rolling or Floating Tempered: Rapid Cooling Adds Strength Dices when broken Automotive windows & security windows Float Glass floresces when excited at 254 nm.

Coated: Surface modification Laminated: Sandwiched around plastic Mirrors Laminated: Sandwiched around plastic Automotive windshields Headlights: often borosilicate Light bulbs: soda lime glass Heat absorbing/ UV filtering tinting Eyeglasses: prescription lenses/photosensitive

Container Glass Glass Fibers Lower magnesium, higher sodium Clear vs. greenish (window) Glass Fibers Fiberglass insulation Alumino-borosilicate Binder (red or yellow) to hold fibers in bundles

Forensic Analysis of Glass Fundamental Question: Is it Glass? Isotropic vs. Anisotropic Glass: Isotropic dark when rotated under crossed polarizers Crystalline solids and plastics: Anisotropic Change retardation when rotated under crossed polarizers Hardness Solubility Solubility – sugar crystal and salt crystal can be made into a “glass-like” material – used in films when a stunt includes breaking glass.

Comparison of Physical Characteristics Color Flatness Thickness Fluorescence–Float Glass 254 nm

Physical Properties Density Sink-Float Method Density Range: CHBr3, C2H2Br4, Sodium Polytungstate Density Range: 2.465-2.540 g/cm3

When 2 substances have different RI, light passing through them produces a Becke Line A Becke line is a band or rim of light visible along a grain/crystal boundary in plane-polarized light. This would show a laminated glass.

Glass analysis is often performed using our old friend the PLM -the goal of glass analysis by PLM is to individualize an evidence glass fragment to an exemplar from a crime scene [primary or secondary] PLM – Polarized Light Microscopy

Populations of Glass RIs Ris – Refractive Index

GRIM II System -automated system for matching glass RI -uses a step-heating stage and a RI liquid that varies with temperature

GRIM II identifies the RI match by monitoring a video image of the glass fragment in the liquid -as it is heated/cooled the contrast is measured until a minimum is reached-the match point

Chemical Composition – Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) SEM/EDS Neutron Activation Analysis X-Ray Fluorescence

How does Glass break? Forensic Fracture Analysis

Radial Begin at a point and radiate outward from point of impact -initial crack is on the side opposite the applied force

Concentric Motion of the projectile through the glass puts tension on the front surface of the glass, causing concentric fractures. -high-speed projectile [a rock] penetrates the glass, it leaves an exit hole larger than it's entrance hole. -helps to determine the direction on impact.

A determination of the direction of force in breaking a window pane: -direction of the rib marks [stress marks on broken edges of glass that are perpendicular to one side of glass] For radial fractures (radiating from the center): - the direction of the force is on the same side as the tangential parts of the rib marks.

Bullets and Glass It’s possible to determine the bullet's direction by noting the side of the cone- shaped hole left by the bullet. -small opening is on the entrance side

Counting Bullet Holes Determination of the sequence of bullet holes can be made by noting the radial fractures. Radial fractures caused by the passage of a bullet stop at pre-existing fracture.