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Use of Superglue During Fingerprinting: Cyanoacrylate Fuming.

Superglue, or cyanoacrylate, is a chemical that can be used in fingerprint analysis to develop latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces, such as metal, plastic, or glass. The process, known as cyanoacrylate fuming, involves heating a small amount of superglue to create a vapor that reacts with the amino acids and other organic compounds in the fingerprint residue, making it visible.

The following are the steps involved in cyanoacrylate fuming:

  • Prepare a suitable fuming chamber, such as a plastic or glass container with a lid.
  • Place a small amount of superglue on a hot plate or in a heated container inside the fuming chamber.
  • Seal the object or surface containing the latent fingerprints inside the fuming chamber, ensuring that the superglue vapors can make contact with the surface.
  • Allow the object or surface to be fumed for several minutes, until the latent fingerprints become visible.
  • Remove the object or surface from the fuming chamber and allow it to cool.
  • Dust the object or surface with a fine powder, such as black or white powder, to make the fingerprints more visible.
  • Use a fingerprint lift tape to remove the developed fingerprints from the surface.
  • The developed fingerprints can then be analyzed and compared to known fingerprints in a database or from a suspect.

Cyanoacrylate fuming is a common technique used in forensic investigations to develop latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces. It is a non-destructive method that can produce high-quality prints, but it does have limitations, such as the inability to develop fingerprints on porous surfaces or in areas where there is a lot of background contamination.

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