Measurements of refractive indices and droplet profiles of fingerprint deposits on flat solid surfaces have been made using transmitted light interference microscopy. Changes in the profile with time and relative humidity have been determined. From these measurements inferences are made on the structure of the droplets. The absence of significant variation in contact angle for fingerprints on substrates of different surface energy is explained in terms of a contaminant film over the area of finger ridge contact. The thickness of this film corresponds closely to that expected for a monolayer of contamination.
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