TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - A new method for opening quartz halogen light bulbs in vehicle accident investigations JO - Forensic science international A1 - Aronson, Ayal A1 - Zidon, Yigal A1 - Cohen, Yaron A1 - Finkelstein, Nir SP - e110053 EP - e110053 VL - 306 IS - N2 - After a car accident, it is an important forensic task to evaluate the status of the vehicle's lighting at the time of impact. In some cases, the bulb has to be opened up to allow proper examination of the high and low beam filaments. Quartz halogen pressurized bulbs are both rigid and brittle and their internal pressure makes them likelier to explode. This study aimed to develop a more elegant method of breaking halogen bulbs open that would minimize the danger of explosion and the risk of damaging the filaments in the process. As part of the study, several opening methods were tried on multiple pressurized quartz halogen bulbs, such as cutting a groove with a hacksaw or a rotary tool, using a propane torch on the bulb to cut or warm it and then cooling it rapidly. Repeated testing by several examiners has shown that the new method developed in this study is the safest and easiest compared with other established methods.

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Language: en

LA - en SN - 0379-0738 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110053 ID - ref1 ER -