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5710673 
Journal Article 
Canine accelerant detectors and problems with carpet pyrolysis products 
Tranthimfryer, DJ; Dehaan, JD 
1997 
1 
Science and Justice
ISSN: 1355-0306 
37 
1 
39-46 
English 
WOS:A1997WE04400007 
Dogs used as detectors for accelerants in controlled tests and actual fire scenes sometimes respond positively to burnt carpets and rubber underlays on which no flammable/combustible liquid accelerant has been placed. This paper reports on the identification of carpet and underlay pyrolysis products to which canines had responded falsely positive during validation and certification testing. The samples of burnt carpet and underlay were examined for pyrolysis product profiles using passive headspace concentration/solvent elution and analysis by capillary column gas chromatography. The results were compared to pyrolysis products prepared in the laboratory by Curie-point and tube pyrolysis from separate components of the carpets and underlays. The carpet pile, adhesive, plastic mesh and rubber polymeric compounds were identified as nylon 6/6, styrene-butadiene, ethylene-vinylacetate-indene, polypropylene, styrene-butadiene-isoprene and poly(1-butene)-polyethylene. It is clear that careful laboratory analysis of fire debris is required to confirm the presence of specific volatile accelerants. 
forensic science; criminalistics; arson investigation; canine accelerant detectors; carpet/rubber underlay pyrolysis products; Curie-point pyrolysis; static headspace sampling; gas chromatography; mass spectrometry