Govt Institute of Forensic

Science, Nagpur
Physics final project
Topic :- Glass
Submitted by: Team Trojans
Akhildev (03)
Akshay kodape (04)
Amrethesh EM (05)
Aravindan D (12)
TOPICS GOING TO BE COVERED
INTRODUCTION TO GLASS
COMPONENTS OF GLASS
COMPARISON OF GLASS FRAGMENTS
CLASSIFICATION OF GLASS SAMPLES
MEASURING AND COMPARING DENSITY AND
REFRACTIVE INDEX OF GLASS
GLASS FRACTUES
COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF GLASS EVIDENCE
 INTRODUCTION TO GLASS
Hard amorphous material made by melting sand, lime(CaO) and sodium oxide(Na 2O)
at very high temperatures and then cooling it so quickly that there is no time for crystals
to form in the glass.
Na2O reduces the melting point of silica/sand and CaO prevents the glass from being
soluble in water.
 Glass fragments from headlight ,front and window glasses of a vehicles are usually
encountered in hit and run cases .
Burglaries frequently involve window or ventilator glasses .Bottles and other type of
glasses are also of great value in the investigation
Glass fragment often get attached to the person’s body or clothing, shoes or deposited
in pocket or get lodged in the vehicle involved or the implement used in the offence.
Broken glass may yield information about the direction and the nature of force applied.
glass surfaces retain fingerprints ,palmprints and other trace evidences in their original
form.
COMPONENTS OF GLASS
Formers – forms the glassy, non-crystalline structure
eg: SiO , B2O3, P2O5, GeO2, V2O5, As2O3
2

Fluxes- improve melting propeties but impart low chemical resistance

typically alkali or alkaline earth oxides.
eg: Na2O, K2O, LiO, Al2O3, B2O3, Cs2O
Modifiers(stabilizers or intermediates)- that improves stability.
Typically oxides of Ca, Al or Zn
Stabilizers- chemical/corrosion resistance.
eg: CaO2, MgO2, Al2O3, PbO2, SrO,BaO,ZnO2,ZrO
CLASSIFICATION OF GLASS
On the basis of : Other types of glass
Manufacturing process o Glass fibre
o ordinary sheet glass o Vitreous silica
o float glass(plate) o Alumino silicate glass
Composition o Alkali barium silicate glass
o oxide glass o Glass ceremics
o non oxide glass o Technical glass
Market application o phosphate glass
o commercial/soda lime glass o Optical glass
o lead glass
o Sealing glass
o borosilicate glass
o laminated glass
o tempered glass
Major forensic glass types
1. Soda Lime Glass: Used for manufacturing window glass ,bottles ,containers, light bulbs, bangles
etc…. The common metal oxides found in this type of glass are sodium, calcium, magnesium and
aluminium.

2. Borosilicate Glass : Glass having substantial amount of boron( over 5% of B O ) which is resistant to
2 2

heat, acid corrosion and alkalis'. Also known as “Pyrex” used to manufacture laboratory glassware,
thermometers, household cookware and automobile head light.
3. Tampered/toughened Glass: This glass is made stronger than ordinary window glass by introducing
stress through rapid heating and cooling of the glass surfaces. When it breaks, it doesn't shatter but
rather fragments or dices into small squares with little splintering.
4. Laminated Glass: This is prepared by sandwiching layer of plastic material between two pieces of
ordinary window glass. When it brakes, the pieces will adhere to the plastic layer.
5. Wire Glass : A sheet of glass with a layer of meshed wire completely embedded inside the glass.
6. Coloured glass: Produced by adding metallic oxides to soda lime silicate glass. Chromium oxide
produces green, cobalt produce blue, iron produce greenish blue, gold copper selenium colloid particles
produces red colour.
7. Light sensitive Glass : These contain colloid al particles of silver halide
DENSITY OF GLASS
Density measurement is one of the most important analyses for comparing the glass
samples. It is defined as mass/unit volume of a sample. Each type of glass has a specific
density. If two samples of glass can be differentiated by density, they could not have
originated from the same source.
Glass density can be measured by
 Density gradient method: the method involves placing a liquid containing a density
gradient in a vertical glass tube. The gradient is such that the density at any level is less
than that at any level lower in the tube. When glass fragments are introduced into the
column, each will become suspended in the liquid at the level that is the same density as
that glass fragment. Thus the density of fragments can be determined.
 Flotation method : A glass particle is immersed in a liquid. The density of the liquid is
adjusted by addition of small amounts of appropriate liquid until the glass chips remain
suspended in the liquid. At this point glass will have same density as the liquid medium.
 Displacement method: he mass of a fragment of glass and the volume of water it
displaces, can help to calculate the density.
 REFRACTIVE INDEX OF GLASS
Refractive index is the change in the direction of light as it speeds up or slow down
when moving from one medium into another. The direction and the amount of light
bends with the densities of the two medium.
Any substance through which light can pass has its own characteristic refractive
index. The refractive index of a substance is calculated by dividing the speed of the light
in vacuum by the speed of light through that particular substance

Speed of light in vacuum

_________________________
n= Speed of light in that medium

IT IS THE MOST COMMONLY MEASURED PROPERTY IN THE FORENSIC

EXAMINATION OF GLASS FRAGMENTS . it can aid in the characterization of glass. It
provides good discrimination potential.
Snell's law
A law stating that the ratio of
the sines of the angles of
incidence and refraction of a
wave are constant when it passes
between two given media.
 Measuring Of Refractive Index Of Glass
The refractive index of a given glass sample can be measured by three methods
1) Laser
2) Oil
3) Annealing
Laser
The speed at which light travels through a material depends on the
density of the material. The speed of light decreases when the material that it
is going through increases in density. As water is denser than air, the speed of
light will be slow in the water than in the air. Refraction is the change in speed
of light, at the boundary between two materials. If the two materials have
different densities, and the light hits the surface at a different angle, refraction
will result in a bending of the light.

We can use Snell’s Law to calculate the refractive index of a piece of glass as
we will be able to measure the two angles in the above diagram and we know
that the refractive index of air is 1.0003.
Oil
Forensic scientists can determine the refractive index (Ri) of clear glass
fragments by placing them in types of oil of known Ri. They can also heat the oil
which changes the Ri of the oil but does not alter the Ri of the glass. As the oil’s Ri
changes the fragment will start to disappear until the refractive index of the oil
and the glass are the same. As the Ri of the oil is known at the different
temperatures, the Ri of the glass can be found. A computer connected to a
microscope will be able to detect when the glass disappears more accurately than a
human eye. This system is called Glass Refractive Index Measurement (GRIM).
Annealing

Annealing is the removal of internal stresses from the glass by the controlled
application of heat. Control and suspect glass fragments are heated in a small
metal container, up to a temperature of 590oC holding it there for 12 minutes then
cooling it at 4.5 oC per minute until it reaches 425 oC. The glass is kept at this
temperature for a minute before being allowed to cool naturally. The refractive
index of the glass is then recalculated as it will have changed. Non-toughened
glass will show a slight increase while toughened will show a higher increase. The
control and suspect should have the same Ri before annealing and after. This does
not mean that the suspect fragments are definitely from the crime scene but
would eliminate all suspect fragments that do not match.
GLASS FRACTURES
Glass bends when a force is applied on any of its surfaces, When its
elasticity reached the glass fractures .

common typrs of fractures are:-

Radial fracture
Concentric fracture
Cone fracture
Fracture by heat
Radial crack
 The penetration of glass by a high velovity projectile, produces a characteristic fracture
pattern. The cracks, which are radiate outwards from the point of impact ,are termed as
radial fracture
These are originated on the surface opposite to that on which the force was applied

Concentric crack
 Concentric cracks are fractures forming in an approximately circular pattern around
the point of impact. They are usually in straight segments that terminate in an existing
radial crack
 These fractures originated from the opposite side of radial fracture, mens in the same side
of impact.

Cone fracture
 A high velocity projectile like bullet, when penetrates the glass, leaves a round shaped
crater shaped hole which is surrounded by radial and concentric cracks
 This fracture determines the point of impact and direction of impact
 The diameter of entry whole will be lesser than the diameter of exit hole
Fracture by heat
 This kind of fracture generally found in arson cases.
 Wavy and random lines are present on the glass surface which moves outward from the
point of contact of heat.
 These are generally absent in heat resistant glass but always present in another common
types of glass
 This type of fracture is different from radial and concentric fracture.
 COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF
GLASS EVIDENCE
Glass fragments found at the crime scene must be photographed and their location noted on the
sketch before they are touched or moved.
Other objects contaminated with glass should be wrapped in paper and submitted to the
Laboratory for examination.
While collecting glass or glass fragments, fingerprints, dust or dirt, bloodstains, or other foreign
matter should be well protected. All available fragments should be collected, to provide as
complete a reassemble as possible.
All glass found at hit-and-run scenes should be recovered. The search should not be limited to
the point of impact, since headlight glass may be dropped off at some distance away as the car
leaves the crime scene. Glass from different locations should be kept in different containers. All
glass should be collected because more than one type may be present. In addition, if just a few
representative samples are saved, individual pieces that could be physically matched with glass
remaining in the headlight shell of the suspected vehicle may be overlooked.
Place small glass fragments in paper bindles, then in coin envelopes, pill boxes, or film cans
which can be marked and completely sealed.
Place large glass fragments in boxes. Separate individual pieces with cotton or tissue to prevent
Thank you …