Effect of Bicomponent Fibers on Sound Absorption Properties of Multilayer Nonwovens

In this study sound absorption properties of multilayer nonwovens with bicomponent fibers have been derived compared with homocomponent fibers. Multilayer nonwovens obtained by polyester fibers consisted of three layers. The top and bottom layers were spunbonded nonwoven and middle layer was meltblown nonwoven sandwiched between them. Each layer was produced separately to compose unbonded three-layered nonwoven structures. Four different spunbonded nonwoven fabrics having a basis weight of 40 gsm made from four different polyester cross-sectional fibers (homocomponent round and trilobal, bicomponent round and trilobal). Five different meltblown nonwoven fabrics having five different basis weights ranging 100 gsm to 200 gsm were made from polyester round cross-sectional fibers. Spunbonded/Meltblown/Spunbonded (SMS) type unbonded multilayer nonwovens had basis weights ranging 180 gsm to 280 gsm. The effect of basis weight on sound absorption performance of multilayer nonwovens has been evaluated in the study. All results have been analyzed statistically. Results show that three-layered nonwoven structures including bicomponent fibers as outer layers had better sound absorption performance than nonwoven structures including homocomponent fibers. This effect becomes more significant as the basis weight increases, resulting insound absorption coefficients.