Analysis of the emission- and odour-behaviour of biofibre-reinforced polyamide in correlation with the conditions during processing

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Heim
• Subject Area: Plastics Engineering
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 388597378

The aim of this project is to analyse the emission-behaviour of specimen made from biofibre-reinforced polyamide and the correlation of the emissions with the odour caused by the conditions during the processing on screw machines. To be able to analyse and evaluatethe chemical compound of the emissions of the materials on one hand and their olfactory behaviour on the other, the chemical analysis by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) will be used together with different human sensory methods. The technical equipment of the Institute of Materials Engineering at the University of Kassel also enables to link the chemical and human sensory analysis of emissions by using an olfactory detector port (ODP) at the GC system. A detailed knowledge gaining about relevant odour-causing compounds, their formation during the process and potentially (odour-)emission-causing interactions of matrix material and biofibres is to be expected within the scope of this project. Especially publications about the correlation of the total odour of the materials, the emissions and the process conditions are so far not known.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants