Sticky stuff

[guimba]

Hello, I am developing a tool for obtaining forensic samples of powders from suspect surfaces. I would like to treat a porous substrate with a coating that will remain tacky after curing. This would allow adhesion of the particles for transport and analysis. Any ideas/suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

 

[unclesyd]

I would contact the 3M company as sticky stuff is one of their main business lines.
I had a discussion with an investigator one time on the subject of your request. It concerned the composition of the sticky material where I thought it should be something that wouldn't normally be hanging around. My reasoning was that using things like Scotch Tape some layer might say that the tape was contaminated before being used to gather evidence.
If I recall correctly 3M makes a material that would work for doing the job.

Way out:
In a pinch you could use a sticky paper as I did one time to get a sample of material.

http://www.tanglefoot.com/products/ttaphid.htm