How did they discover superglue works to increase fingerprint visibility?

Question

I'm just curious :)

Answer 1

The first Japanese latent print examiner to use cyanoacrylate fuming to intentionally develop fingerprints was Masato Soba at the Saga Prefectural Crime Laboratory of the National Police Agency of Japan. Mr. Soba learned of the development of superglue fingerprints from co-worker Fuseo Matsumura... a hair and fiber expert who discovered his own fingerprints developing on microscope slides while mounting hairs with cyanoacrylate. The hairs were from a case involving a murdered taxi cab driver.

Answer 2

A Mechanistic Model for the Superglue Fuming of Latent Fingerprints*

Patrick Czekanski1; Michael Fasola, B.S.1; and John Allison, Ph.D.1

ABSTRACT: The use of superglue vapors to detect latent fingerprints, known as superglue fuming, is a chemical process that has not been fully described. The role of the fingerprint material in the process, leading to formation of methyl cyanoacrylate polymer at the site of the fingerprint, remains to be established. Films of liquid alkanes respond similarly to actual fingerprints in the fuming experiment. Their responses depended on the hydrocarbon used, viscosity, and film thickness. Aspects such as film thickness appear to be relevant for actual fingerprints as well. A model was proposed in light of these observations. The model compares the process with gas chromatography, in which molecules partition between the gas phase and a stationary phase. Aspects such as accumulation of superglue monomers by partitioning into a thin film (or wax) are consistent with the preferential response of fingerprints on surfaces relative to the background.

Answer 3

This may sound unbelievable, but it was discovered by the japanese by accident. It was during the process of manufacturing a product where glue was necessary and they found that the super glue they used actually showed their fingerprints which made the product semi-defective (as in undesirable). They then reported it and it became a new sensation in CSI technique.

Answer 4

it is actually a chemical in it but as with many things, from the study of the actions of varoius chemicals. Science though study and trial and errro

Answer 5

some glue sniffing, law and order freak

just kidding.

check out this to figure it out better:

http://www.primidi.com/2006/01/31.html

Answer 6

i don,t know exactly but if they had this and dna like they do ,back when OJ was on trial things would be different.don,t you think?