Sound-absorbing properties of kapok fiber nonwoven composite at low-frequency

More and more concern for environmental problems has led public to use natural and environmentally benign sound-absorbing materials. In this study, the sound-absorbing nonwoven composites based on kapok fiber and hollow polyester fiber were developed and sound absorption properties of kapok fiber nonwoven composites were investigated in the low frequency region of 100-500 Hz using the impedance tube method. The poor sound-absorbing at low-frequency is one of the difficult problems that urgently need to be solved in fibrous sound-absorbing materials. The effects of physical parameters, including bulk density and thickness, and depth of back cavity on sound absorption properties of composites were studied. Increasing of the bulk density, thickness and depth of back cavity is contribute to improve sound absorption properties of composites at low frequency. The comparisons of kapok fiber with polypropylene (PP) fiber and hollow polyester fiber indicated that as a natural fiber, kapok fiber had a superior acoustical properties at low frequency.