In 1974, CFC-113 was first used as a carrier solvent for latent fingerprint development on porous surfaces. This highly volatile, low toxicity, nonflammable fluid gave excellent ridge detail, did not cause inks to run when used with Ninhydrin and was safe for laboratory use.

But after a time, CFC-113 was identified as one of the materials responsible for depletion of the ozone layer and a contributor to global warming, and by 1995 most developed nations had severely restricted its use.

Unfortunately for forensic scientists, no fluid existed that could perform with the level of precision exhibited by CFC-113. Fluids like acetone, petroleum ether and heptane achieved varying results, but all are flammable

Novec fluid HFE-7100 is being used as a carrier solvent in latent fingerprint development on porous surfaces. Novec fluid HFE-7100 is a selective solvent—as demonstrated by its inertness to most inks—and does not dissolve the amino acids transferred to the porous substrate in a fingerprint. Its surface tension is much lower than hydrocarbon solvents like petroleum ether (13.6 mN/m vs. 20 mN/m), allowing Novec fluid HFE-7100  to more easily and thoroughly carry dissolved Ninhydrin or DFO to where it is most useful—namely the edges of the fingerprint ridges. And because HFE-7100 fluid does not absorb moisture, ridge diffusion on the print is minimized.

AMS - 3M - Finger Print HFE-7100 formula

AMS - 3M - Finger Print Ninhydrin

AMS - 3M - Finger Print Wetting