{"id":10193,"date":"2017-11-13T12:10:29","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T17:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=10193"},"modified":"2017-11-13T12:10:29","modified_gmt":"2017-11-13T17:10:29","slug":"csi-college-of-textiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2017\/11\/csi-college-of-textiles\/","title":{"rendered":"CSI: College of Textiles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Written by Cameron Walker<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n One can gather an extraordinary amount of information from a few drops of blood at a crime scene. Investigators can tell the height from which blood fell, directionality of blow or bullet, the instrument used and the genetic identity of the victim or perpetrator. However, when blood stains a textile as opposed to landing on a hard surface, the evidence is more difficult to interpret. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen the blood hits a nonporous surface, it may spread out and then retract, but it stays there,\u201d said <\/span>Dr. Stephen Michielsen<\/span>, professor and director of Ph.D. programs in the <\/span>Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science <\/span><\/a>in the <\/span>Wilson College of Textiles<\/span><\/a>. \u201cOn a wicking surface, it hits and it’s exactly the same process for…about 1\/100th of a second. Thereafter, it begins to wick and spread in the textile. At that point, the behavior is completely different than what we see on other surfaces.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Basically, in addition to the bloodstain altering the textile, the textile alters the bloodstain. Factors such as the way the yarn is spun, the warp of the woven fabric and mechanical and chemical treatments affect the way the blood lays on or settles into the textile. The great variety of textiles and a lack of understanding of their manufacturing and finishing processes has led to a knowledge gap in the field.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michielsen is one of few experts in the specialized field of textile forensics, and he recently conducted a workshop for city, county and state crime scene professionals from across the country and Canada to further their understanding of the interaction of blood and textiles.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n