Odour perception - A rapid and easy method to detect early degradation of polymers

Human perception of odour is presented as a tool to detect early degradation of polymeric materials. Polyamide 66 (PA66) was selected as model material and subjected to accelerated ageing through thermo-oxidation. After different degradation times, participants smelled at the headspace of jars with aged polymer and scaled their perceived odour intensity. In parallel, conventional analysis by GC-MS and tensile testing was performed to measure the volatile compounds released and accompanying changes in mechanical properties during degradation. Perceived odour intensity correlated with a significant deterioration in mechanical properties and the release profiles of eight degradation products. This relationship was detected at a very early stage of degradation before any significant changes could be observed in thermal and surface properties. Odour perception, thus, constitutes a rapid and convenient method to determine the quality of plastic materials.