Fibrous materials
Fabrics, threads, fibres, clothing, upholstery, ropes, cords and microparticles of a fibrous nature.
from RUB 70 000
Forensic examination
Materials. Coatings.
Microparticles.
Forensic examination of fibrous materials and products made from them, paint materials and coatings, microparticles, traces of contact interaction and comparison samples.
Before work begins
Preserve the objects and comparison samples.
Describe the provenance, condition and storage conditions of the materials. Sampling, packaging and transfer procedures are agreed with regard to the task.
Choose questions for the expert ↗About this discipline
Forensic examination of objects
Examination of materials, substances and products is used when materials, coatings, particles or products need to be examined to establish factual circumstances: origin, class or group classification, the presence of microparticles, contact traces, similarity to samples or the object's relevance to the case.
Main focus: examination of fibrous materials and products made from them, as well as paint materials and coatings.
Proper recovery, packaging and storage of objects are important: microparticles, fibres and coating traces are easily lost, transferred or contaminated.
Services
Main areas
Paint materials and coatings
Paint particles, traces of paint materials, vehicle coatings, deposits and comparison samples.
from RUB 80,000
Microparticles and contact traces
Detection and analysis of fibres, particles, deposits and traces of contact interaction between objects.
from RUB 80,000
Vehicle paintwork and road accident traces
Examination of paintwork, paint particles and contact traces in road accident cases.
from RUB 90 000
Questions for court
Preparation of questions on materials, substances, products, fibres, paint materials, microparticles and samples.
from RUB 15,000
Review of an expert report
Review of an opinion: objects, packaging, methodology, comparison samples, findings and procedural errors.
from RUB 60,000
Questions
Typical questions for an expert
- On fibres:
Are fibrous materials present on the object? What is their nature, type or group classification? - On paint materials:
Are the particles paint coating material? Do they belong to the same class or group as the sample? - Concerning contact:
Are there features of contact interaction between the objects based on the transfer of fibres, particles, deposits or coatings? - Concerning a review:
Are the findings of the previous examination substantiated, were the examination conditions observed, and are the samples sufficient?
Important: questions need to be formulated for the specific objects and case materials. Not all materials support a categorical identification finding.
About the expert
Andrei Viktorovich
Expert assistance with forensic examination of materials, substances and products, preparation of questions and reviews.
Training and experience
Professional retraining in chemical analysis and materials science.
Expert practice since 2020.
Membership and insurance
Andrei Viktorovich is a member of SUDEX.
His professional liability as a forensic expert is insured with Absolut Strakhovanie LLC for RUB 5,000,000.
The work is conducted within the limits of the questions posed, object types, state of preservation of materials and sufficiency of comparison samples. Where a multidisciplinary examination involving chemical, materials science, physical trace or other tasks is needed, specialists in the relevant fields are engaged.
Approach: the object, packaging, sample provenance, possibility of contamination, questions, case materials and limits of competence are assessed first.
An expert examination does not replace legal assessment or conclusions on guilt, the admissibility of evidence or the legal classification of conduct. Such questions are resolved by the court, investigative authorities, inquiry authorities or a lawyer.
How to choose a task concerning particles, coatings and fibres
In the first enquiry, it is useful to describe the result required. The same inclusion can be considered as an unknown material, an object for comparison with a sample or a possible trace of interaction between items. Each task relies on its own set of source information.
Three starting points
- Establish the nature of the material. It is necessary to understand what was found and which features can be examined. Photographs of the object, its location and information about its condition are important to begin with.
- Compare two materials. The provenance of each sample and the basis for comparison need to be explained: a specific item, surface, fabric or coating.
- Test a contact hypothesis. Alongside the particles' features, the place of discovery, known movements, treatment and possible alternative sources are significant.
Instead of a generic request to «prove where this came from», it is better to specify the connection to be tested: which objects are to be compared and which event is being considered. The desired answer does not need to be confirmed in advance. If the provenance of some materials is unknown, that gap is retained in the description rather than replaced with an assumption.
The number of objects and comparisons affects the scope of work. Several visually similar fragments may need separate descriptions if they came from different places. Before agreeing the assignment, it is useful to separate the main and additional questions: this helps determine the sequence of examination and identify which materials are missing. The scope and cost of work are clarified for the specific objects, without treating the name of a field as a promise that any analysis can be performed.
Pricing
Indicative costs
| Fibrous materials | from RUB 70 000 |
| Paint materials and coatings | from RUB 80,000 |
| Microparticles and contact traces | from RUB 80,000 |
| Vehicle paintwork and road accident traces | from RUB 90 000 |
| Questions for court | from RUB 15,000 |
| Review of an expert report | from RUB 60,000 |
The exact cost depends on the number of objects, material types, need for comparison samples, extent of microscopy, urgency and need to prepare a review.
Indicative timeframes
- Review of an expert report — at least 5 working days.
- Specialist’s opinion — at least 10 working days.
- Court-appointed examination — at least 16 working days.
These timeframes apply to standard assignments and begin after the order has been agreed, the complete set of materials has been received and the agreed payment conditions have been met.
The complexity of the assignment, the volume of materials and the involvement of other specialists may extend the timeframe. The exact timeframe and scope of work are recorded in the order before work begins.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can fibres on clothing be examined?
Yes. Fibres, fabrics, threads, deposits, textile fragments and comparison samples are examined if they have been properly preserved and are suitable for examination.
Can paint particles be examined after a road accident?
Yes. Paint coating particles and contact traces may be examined together with comparison samples of vehicle paintwork or a painted surface.
What matters most when transferring objects?
Separate packaging, preservation of microparticles, absence of foreign contamination and a clear description of the provenance of objects and samples.
Can an existing report be reviewed?
Yes, a review is prepared for this purpose, analysing the objects, packaging, methodology, comparison samples and support for the findings.
Typical scenario
Similar fibres on objects that were stored together
Suppose apparently similar fibres are found on two objects that shared packaging before examination. Direct contact is suggested, but potential transfer during storage must also be considered.
Typical scenario
Coating fragments are compared with a car that has already been repaired
If recovered coating fragments are to be compared with a car after a damaged panel was repainted, its new condition cannot be treated as an unchanged sample of the earlier coating. Analysis would need to establish which areas were repaired, what original coating remains and where each comparison material came from.
Inquiry
Send a description of the objects and materials
You can send photographs of the objects, a ruling, court order, opinion for review, draft questions and information about packaging and comparison samples.
- fibres, fabrics, threads, clothing, upholstery;
- paint materials and coatings;
- microparticles and contact traces;
- vehicle paintwork and road accident traces;
- report review and questions for court.