The Forensic expert kollegium conducts examinations of various types of polymer materials, as well as products made from them. Polymers form the basis for the production of plastics, rubber, adhesives, and many chemical fibers.

The objects of examination of polymer materials and products made from them may include:

• polymer packaging materials: plastic bags, films, bottles, containers, caps, rope and cord products, adhesive tapes; 
• light industry products: fittings (plastic buttons, buckles, fasteners, etc.), combs, cases, artificial leather products (belts, bags, gloves, etc.); 
• vehicle components: bumpers, headlight lenses, turn signal reflectors, side lights, plastic handles, fuel caps, hoses, rings, tire materials, dashboards, etc.; 
• electrical and cable industry products: insulation coatings of wires, cords and cables, insulating tapes, adhesive films; 
• plastic elements of radio and television equipment (casings, panels, control knobs, etc.); 
• decorative facing materials: for seats, doors and vehicle interiors, materials for lampshades, seats and backs of upholstered furniture, artistic and souvenir items imitating wood, leather and other materials; 
• finishing materials and coatings for various products and equipment; 
• burned or charred residues of polymer materials and products made from them. 

The examination of polymer materials is aimed at solving the following tasks:

• detection of layers, traces of friction, and fragments of polymer materials on carrier objects and at the scene; 
• identification of the target object based on detected traces or its parts; 
• determination of common generic (group) affiliation of several examined objects; 
• determination of the nature of the material, its name, purpose, properties, field of application, and origin; 
• determination of the presence of specific properties of the examined objects, as well as the causes and possibility of their changes under certain conditions (for example, exposure to elevated temperatures); 
• reconstruction of the original appearance of objects altered by external (less often internal) factors, as well as determination of their properties when a reference sample with known characteristics is available. 

During the examination of polymer products, their compliance with established safety requirements and quality standards is assessed, as well as the correspondence of their functional characteristics to future operating conditions, reliability, and resistance to various external influences.

Specialized tests are often carried out for these purposes. At the Forensic expert kolleium, they are conducted in a testing laboratory using specialized equipment and calibrated measuring instruments included in the State register of measuring instruments of the Republic of Belarus, as well as in accordance with methods established by technical regulatory legal acts in force in the Republic of Belarus and the Customs union. Both destructive and non-destructive methods may be used during the examinations. Upon completion of testing, a report is issued confirming or not confirming the product’s compliance with regulatory requirements.

You may contact the Forensic expert kollegium for consultation regarding examinations of polymer materials and products made from them at: Minsk, Zhukovskaga St., 11A, 4th floor

or by phone: +375 (17) 317 04 71; +375 (17) 317 04 72; +375 (17) 317 04 73; +375 (17) 317 04 74; +375 (17) 317 04 76; +375 (29) 109 60 11; +375 (44) 588 60 11.