Berlin 2008 – scientific programme

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MM: Fachverband Metall- und Materialphysik

MM 23: Poster session

MM 23.20: Poster

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 14:45–18:00, Poster B

Forensic Science - Applications in Metal- and Material Physics — •Horst Katterwe — Kriminaltechnisches Insitut / BKA, 65173 Wiesbaden

Forensic science refers to the examination of scenes of crime, recovery of evidence, laboratory examinations, interpreting of findings and presentation of the conclusions reached for intelligence purposes or for use in court. The paper describes forensic scientific cases, which can be solved by methods of applied metal- and material physics. Items and substances are bullets, cartridges, tool marks, fractures of metals and polymers, manufacturers marks and serial number restoration. Experiments which are employed include marks analysis, mechanical testing and recovering of erased characters by using aspects of solid-state physics, chemistry and engineering. Marking processes (die stamping, engraving, laser beam) change the microstructure of the metal (grains, slip bands, dislocations)or in cases of polymers the macromolecules around the marking become oriented (decreasing of the entropy). Methods used to restore erased numbers - both destructive and non-destructive - are described. \newline Reference: Voss-de Haan. Katterwe, Simross "Physik in der Kriminaltechnik", Physik Journal 2 (2003) Nr.9, 35-41.