RECOVERY OF TRANSFERRED FIBERS

The effectiveness of recovery of fibres by taping has been investigated using three types of fibre from three donor garments and three types of recipient garment. Results showed that, on the majority of occasions, less than 50% of transferred fibres which were present on the garment after 8 h of wear were recovered from a wool jumper and an acrylic jumper. Percentage recovery did, however, vary widely. Use of greater quantities of tape did not improve the level of recovery. Fibres were recovered most effectively from the smooth surface of a polyester jacket though few fibres remained on the garment after 8 h of wear. Cotton fibres remaining on recipient garments tended to be short and were recovered more efficiently than wool and acrylic fibres. The majority of all three types of transferred fibres remaining on garments after 8 h were less than 2 mm in length. The main parameters affecting efficiency of recovery appear to be the type of recipient surface and the type of transferred fibre. These results emphasize that, in some circumstances, low effectiveness of recovery must be taken into account when interpreting the numbers of fibres actually found in casework.