Cyanoacrylate Ester

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Development Color:

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Method to Record:

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Hazard:

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Protective Clothing: 

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 Fume Hood Use:

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Formula

Procedure of Application

Development Complete When

Source of Error

Incompatibilities

Precautions

Storage Container

Safety

Recommendations

Sequential Reagent

Formula

Two Options:
A. Liquid glue: Deposit an amount of glue about 20 mm in diameter in a small porcelain plate. 
                                         -- or --
B. Commercial "Gel-pac": Open pack to release fumes.

Procedure of Application

1. ​Place item(s) into enclosed chamber.
2. Add glue (either option A. or B. in the formula).
3. Add humidity source (cup of warm water).
4. Fume at least 10 minutes, Monitor often for development.
5. Evaluate development under an oblique light source.
6. Photograph the developed detail.
7. Process with dye-stain.

Development Complete When

The white crust is polymerized on the impression. 
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Check the progress of polymerization after 5 to 10 minutes.

Source of Error

Humidity around 80% relative humidity must be introduced in order to catalyze the non-specific polymerization reaction.
​
Gel-Pac may be exhausted of the active ingredients.

Incompatibilities

Moisture-laden surfaces.

Items to be submitted for Firearms and Biology examination.
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Light-colored surfaces which present little contrast for the developed detail.

Precautions

​Don't breathe the fumes after opening the processing tank.  Let the fumes escape from the tank before removing the items.

Store & examine the treated item in a well-ventilated area.

Storage Container

​Gel-pacs can be stored in zippered plastic bags.

Safety

​Ventillation in the area of fuming tanks is required.

Cyanoacrylate is an irritant if inhaled.

Recommendations

View using oblique white light to visualize any faintly developed prints.

Use a post-cyanoacrylate dye stain to improve the visualization of any developed detail.

Researchers recommend to let the developed detail 'sit' overnight before treating with dye stains.

Sequential Reagent

Not Necessarily in this Order:

• Ardrox
• Basic Yellow 40
• Basic Red 28
• Liqui-Drox
• M.B.D.
• M.R.M. 10
• R.A.M.
• R.A.Y.
• Rhodamine 6G
• Safranin O
• Thenoyl Europium Chelate

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Chemical Name
Cyanoacrylate Ester
​Surface Used On
Non-Porous Surfaces
​Sensitive To
Eccrine Components
​Abridged Reagent Sequence

1. Visual Examination
2. Forensic Light
3. Cyanoacrylate Fuming
4. Dye Stain
5. Forensic Light

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Ridge Detail Visualized by:
Visible chemical/stain reaction
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Reagent Applicabilities:
Non-Porous surfaces

Other Chemical Name(s):
Superglue
Ethyl-2-Cyanoacrylate
Methyl-2-Cyanoacrylate

Working Solution Shelf-life:
Indefinite

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Process Summary:
An item for processing is placed within an enclosed chamber. Fumes from the active ingredient of Cyanoacrylate ester polymerizes on the components of the impression's residue creating a white impression. Several post-cyanoacrylate dye stains or powders may be applied to improve the visualization of the developed detail.

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Accepted Deviations:
Many forms of superglue fuming, fuming acceleration and chamber construction may be used for evidence processing. Items may also be processed with Cyanoacrylate ester using vacuum chambers.

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Supporting Reference Materials:

1. Lee, H.C. and Gaensslen, R.E. (1984), "Cyanoacrylate Fuming: Theory and Procedures".
2. "Chemical Formulas and Processing Guide for Developing Latent Prints", U.S. Dept. of Justice, pg. 47-48, 1994.
3. Advances in Fingeprint Technology 2nd. Ed., Lee, H.C. & Gaensslen, R.E., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL., 2001.
4. Manual of Fingerprint Development Techniques 2nd. Ed., Home Office - Police Scientific Development Branch, White Crescent Press, Ltd., Luton, England, 2001.
5. Technical Notes, Lightning Powder Co. Inc., Salem, OR., 2001.