Microstructural Examination of Molten Marks on Copper Wire for Fire Investigation

Abstract

Fire investigators have attempted to study fire behaviors through microstructural examination of molten marks on copper wire. However, there have not been many studies on the metallurgical examination of real-world cases. This research examined the surface morphology and microstructure in the longitudinal section of molten marks on copper wire from various fire scenes to explain how they formed and identify the surrounding materials. The results show that the foreign elements discovered via EDS on the surface of molten marks vary depending on their environment. Molten mark microstructures differed even if they were collected from the same fire scene; a distinct microstructure implies different molten mark formations. Moreover, the presence of residual elements in the microstructure indicates the existence of surrounding materials during formation in a fire. Therefore, microstructural diversity and the presence of residual elements may guide fire investigators in explaining the formation of molten marks and the fire environment for fire investigation.