Adhesives and Odour

Odour, or rather the absence thereof, is gaining an increasing importance as selection criterion for adhesives. Typical examples in which this topic plays in important role include the hygiene, the building and the automotive industries. All types of adhesive are affected, regardless whether they are 100% solid systems (reactive or nonreactive), water or solvent-based. The lecture will cover the following aspects The mechanism of odour detection by the human nose The nature of substances responsible for odour Formulation strategies to prevent irritating odours in adhesives Methods of odour detection and evaluation. Present and future (electronic nose) The mechanism of odour detection by the human nose The nose is one of the most important and also most underestimated human organ. Its place in the middle of the head, a strategic position, underlines also this important role. The function of the nose was quite important in the evolution of the human race. The nose was able to detect burn smell and was acting as a warning system. Also food, which was not fresh (for example fish), was easy to detect by the nose and helped therefore to improve the health of the people. In the past bad odour was very often related to diseases and other dangerous aspects of the human life. To illustrate this, the following two examples can be given: -The word malaria does nothing else mean as “bad air”. -The very distinguished smell of garlic was often used to drive away ghosts But how does the human nose detect odours? Odorants are carried by inhaled air to the Regio Olfactoria (olfacatory epthilelium) located in the roof of the two nasal cavities of the human nose, just below and