Metallisation
Definition
Impregnation of vaporised conductor metal into the skin at a high-voltage electrical contact point. Identified by X-ray fluorescence or SEM-EDS. Allows matching of the body to a specific conductor when scene examination is incomplete.
- Process
- Vaporised conductor metal impregnates skin
- Occurs at
- High-voltage electrical contact point
- Detection method
- X-ray fluorescence or SEM-EDS
- Forensic value
- Matches body to specific conductor
Common questions
Why is matching metallisation to a specific conductor useful when the scene has already been altered?+
If the original conductor is missing or the scene disturbed before examination, elemental analysis of the metal embedded in the contact wound can still identify the metal type, which can be compared against candidate conductors to confirm or exclude a specific source.
Does the absence of visible metallisation rule out electrocution as cause of death?+
No. Metallisation depends on contact conditions such as voltage, contact duration, and conductor material, and low-voltage or brief contacts may leave little or no detectable metal deposit even when electrocution occurred.
Related terms
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