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Application of Nano Material to Enhance Acoustic Properties

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 International Journal of
Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology
A Peer-reviewed journal

ISSN : 2454-1338(O), ISSN : 2454-1125(P)

IJESFT 12 (2015) 001-009

Application of Nano Material to Enhance Acoustic Properties

D.V. Bihola1,* ,H N Amin2 ,V D Shah 3

1
Textile Manufacturing Technology, R.C. Technical Institute, Ahmedabad , Gujarat, India
2
Textile Technology Department, Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology, Gujarat, India

3
Textile Technology Department, L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT: Sound pollution has become an important issue that has been addressed by scientists of various
disciplines. Control of sound in areas of transport industry is of paramount importance. Noise can
have the adverse health effects like: hearing loss, sleep disturbances, feel tiredness, cardiovascular
and psycho physiologic problems, performance reduction, annoyance responses, and adverse
social behavior. Therefore, it is very important to control or reduce noise from traffic, factories,
offices and houses. With the continuing development of new technologies, particularly the trend
towards faster, more powerful machinery, environmental impact of noise is a matter of increasing
concern and considerable efforts are being made to finding effective means of noise reduction.
Sound absorbing materials are attracting much attention as a solution to the ambient noise impact
on people’s lives and they are performing greatly. Nano material is the smallest engineered
structure with large specific surface area and small pore size. Properties of nano material indicate
Article History their potential to produce the advance noise absorbing material. In this paper, the potential of the
nano material to be use for acoustic application is discussed, considering the results obtain from the
various research works done to produce advanced acoustic material with better noise absorbing
Available online: properties.
03/12/2015 © 2015 A D Publication. All rights reserved

Keywords: Noise, Noise Absorption, Acoustic, Nano Material, Noise Absorption Coefficient (NAC).

1. Introduction
With the continuing development of new technologies, particularly the trend towards faster, more powerful
machinery, environmental impact of noise is a matter of increasing concern, and considerable efforts are being
made to finding effective means of noise abatement. The use of textiles for noise reduction is based on two
major advantages of these materials, namely low production costs and small specific gravity. Textile materials
are effective in converting the mechanical motion of the air particles in sound waves into low-grade heat. Almost
all materials have some kind of acoustical property. However, materials that absorb a majority of the sound
impinging upon them rather than reflecting the sound are termed “acoustical material”. Sound absorbing
materials are attracting much attention as a solution to the ambient noise impact on people’s lives and they are
performing greatly. The obtained nanofiber by electro spinning have notable characteristics such as a high
surface area to volume ratio, good pore inter connectivity, high porosity and the ability to incorporate active
components on a nano scale. These characteristics make nanofiber layers have different properties in
comparison with conventional material like glass wool and felts used for sound absorption. These unique

*
Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] Journal access: www.ijesft.com
Tel.: +91 9979861530 © 2015 A D Publication. All rights reserved

ID:IJESFT2015V01I1218189 Volume 1 Issue 12, December 2015

 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology 2

characteristics of nano material and recent development in the area of nano technology make the nano material
more suitable to use in the field of noise control and the correction of acoustic environments, because it is
possible to get advantage of improving the acoustic characteristics of traditional material without increasing their

Nomenclature

NAC Noise Absorption Coefficient

,
weight and size. Possible applications of these new materials are in the automotive and the aerospace
industries where weight reduction is needed to increase the fuel efficiency. Nanofibers are fibers with a diameter
of 1 micrometer and this material is fabricated by electro-spinning method. Figure 1and 2 shows the schematic
diagram of electro spinning apparatus.

Fig. 1 Scheme of electro-spinning Fig.2 Production of nano fiber layer by electro-spinning

(With needle) (Without Needle)

As shown in the figures 1 a high electric field is applied between a nozzle of syringe and electrode and
similar way as shown in figure 2 high electrical field is applied between metal roll and collector.

Nanofibers have long been proposed for use in insulation as their benefits to acoustic insulation products
are significant. Recently advances in production equipment have decreased the cost of bringing nanofiber
production into a product, improved the quality of the nanofibers and nanofiber webs, and allowed easier
integration with existing acoustic insulation production process.

2. What is Acoustics?
Acoustics is defined as the scientific study of sound, which includes the effect of reflection, refraction,
absorption, diffraction and interference. A noise system can be broken down into three elements.

Noise Source The element, which disturbs the air.

Noise Path The medium through which the acoustical energy propagates from one point
to another.
Noise Receiver The person who could potentially complain about the quantity or level of noise
as perceived at same point.

It is necessary to treat at least one element in the noise system if the perceived level of the noise is to be
reduced. By reducing the noise level at the source or along the path, the noise level at the receiver is
accordingly reduced. Treating the receiver individually in such a way to minimize the sensitivity to high noise
3 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology

levels is another option. But this method is not often followed because of cost of redesign, develop and retool.
Treatment of noise receiver is the least desirable approach since each receiver must be treated individually.
Treatment of the noise path is conceptually the simplest and therefore the most common approach to a
localized noise problem. The approach is to place the material in the path of the noise (generally between the
noise source and the noise receiver) so that the level of noise at the receiver is reduced. In general four basic
principles are employed to reduced noise: isolation, absorption, vibration isolation and vibration damping. The
study here is focused on the phenomenon of sound energy is converted into thermal energy.

2.1. Mechanism of sound absorption in fibrous materials

Some materials allow sound to easily enter it. These materials are called porous. Acoustic porous materials
can have porosity greater than 90%. Common sound absorption materials are open cell foam and fiber. Sound
absorption is an energy conversion process. The kinetic energy of the sound (air) is converted to heat energy
when the sound strikes the cells or fibers. Hence, the sound disappears after striking the material due to its
conversion into heat.
The absorption of sound results from the dissipation of acoustic energy to heat. When sound enters porous
materials, owing to sound pressure, air molecules oscillate in the interstices of the porous material with the
frequency of the exciting sound wave. This oscillation results in frictional losses. A change in the flow direction
of sound waves, together with expansion and Contraction phenomenon of flow through irregular pores, results in
a loss of momentum. Owing to exciting of sound, air molecules in the pores undergo periodic compression and
relaxation. This results in change of temperature. Because of long time, large surface to volume ratios and high
heat conductivity of fibers, heat exchange takes place isothermally at low frequencies. At the same time in the
high frequency region compression takes place adiabatically. In the frequency region between these isothermal
and adiabatic compression, the heat exchange results in loss of sound energy. This loss is high in fibrous
materials if the sound propagates parallel to the plane of fibers and may account up to 40% sound attenuation.
So, altogether the reasons for the acoustic energy loss when sound passes through sound absorbing materials
are due to:
 Frictional losses.
 Momentum losses.
 Temperature fluctuations

Fig. 3 Sound Absorption mechanism

The more fibrous a material is the better the absorption; conversely denser materials are less absorptive.
The sound absorbing characteristics of acoustical materials vary significantly with frequency. In general low
frequency sounds are very difficult to absorb because of their long wave length. On the other hand, we are less
 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology 4

susceptible to low frequency sounds [2].

In short, sound is attenuated by air viscosity, nonreversible deformation of material and thermal conduction
between the fibers and the air. Sound absorption also depends on structural characteristics such as fiber
fineness, density of the fiber and porosity etc.

3. Measurement methodology
Impedance Tube used to determine acoustic properties according to the standard. Sound absorption is
measured as the sound absorption coefficient is a dimensionless ratio of sound energy absorbed by a given
surface to that incident upon the surface. It is a ratio of acoustic energy absorbed by the material and acoustic
energy incident on that absorbing material; therefore it has a theoretical maximum value of 1.A part of the sound
energy is absorbed and the rest is reflected back to the environment. As the absorption coefficient increase, the
effectiveness of acoustic insulation material improves[4]. Standard methods use to measure NAC are

 Sound Absorption Coefficient - ASTM E1050 – 08

 Transmission Loss – ASTM E2611 – 09
 Frequency Range 50 – 6400 Hz
 Round Samples of the diameters 29mm and 100mm

Fig. 4 Impedance Tube Tester

In this review paper we try to cover the various researches works done to improve the acoustics properties
of material using nanomaterial.

3.1. Experiment works done by various researchers

Nanofiber can improve the acoustic properties of product by increasing the sound absorption coefficient,
reducing material thickness and low weight due to its higher surface area to volume ratio.

Work[4] indicate that if the nano material used in between the high loft and scrim as shown in fig.5 gives
dramatic improvement in the acoustic performance of a traditional sound absorption material.

Elmarco[5] developed NanospiderTM technology allows nanofibers to be produced on an industrial scale

for number of application. Nanospider TM is a high voltage, free liquid surface electro spinning process.
AcousticWebTM is a new patented material with unique absorption properties. It is able to absorb sounds
across a wide range of frequencies, especially standing out in the absorption of low frequency sound below
frequency sounds below 1000 Hz
5 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology

Nanofibrous layer represents a membrane that vibrates at low frequencies. This characteristic is given by
nano dimensions of the inter fiber areas. Sound wave landing on the acoustic resonating membrane makes the
membrane oscillate and its amplitude is in its maximum in the case of resonance. Fiberous underlay material
ensures the sufficient suppressing of the resonant membrane, so that most of the sound energy accumulated in
the resonator is transferred in to the heat energy. Individual elements are accumulated in to one resonant
system by laying these elements on each other.

Fig. 5 Representative construction Fig. 6. Alpha cabin measurement,

HL= High Loft: NF Nanofiber layer, S=Scrim
Structure of the material: Nanofibers layers are electro statically spun on a carded web.
Nanofiber Layer: Carded Web layer
Material: Polyvinyl alcohol PVA PES staple fiber with flame retarding modification, recycled cotton, etc.
Mean nanofiber diameter: 350nm Fiber fineness: 3.3 – 6.7 dtex
Area weight: 0.2 – 0.8 gsm
Production line consists of the following components
Carding machine –double doffer with 1.6 effectivr width  Nanospider machine – 4 units with 8 spinning
chamber Lapper – transforms nano coated carded web into layered material  Thermo bonding oven –
stabilizes the structure of the material  Cutting machine – formats material into the sheets
 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology 6

TM
Fig. 6 Nanospider AcousticWeb Fig.7 Alpha coefficient

Nanospider AcousticWebTM is reaching a higher value of alpha coefficient especially standing out in the
absorption of low frequencies below 2000 Hz.
Amelia Trematerra, Gino lannace and et al[1] in their work reported acoustic measurement carried out on
porous materials coated with nanofibers. The nanofibres are obtained by Nylon6 base on needle free electro
spinning process available. The layer of nanofibers are glued on the porous material and are used samples with
different thickness of porous materials. The measurements of the absorption coefficient at normal incidence
have been performed with the impedance tube in the frequency range of 200 Hz to 6.3 kHz. The measured
values were compared with similar measurements carried out on porous materials without the layer of
nanofibers. Following results are achieved from these experiments.

Fig. 8 Kenaf (range 200Hz – 2.0 kHz) Fig. 9 Felt, thickness 3 mm (range 200Hz – 6.3 kHz)

Fig. 10. Back Cavity (range 200Hz – 6.3 kHz) Fig. 11 Felt, thickness 4 mm (range 200Hz – 6.3 kHz)
7 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology

Fig. 12 Foam, thickness 40mm (range 200Hz – Fig. 13 Normal incident sound absorption coefficient of
6.3kHz) silica fiber laminates and GW

It is clear from the above results that the traditional material (thickness of 3cm and 4 am) such as glass
wool, rock wool, foam, kenaf or polyester the presence of the nanolayer of nanofiber improves the value of the
absorption coefficient of the medium-low frequencies.

Fig. 14 Nanofibrous layer is applied by the electro spinning process to the basic fibrous material

Fig. 15 Noise absorption coefficient of nonofibrous layers of different area densities

Shuichi Akasaka, Takashisa and Shigeo Asai [6] developed the sound absorption material with silica
nanofiber sheet and tested for its sound absorption characteristics. In this study, they fabricated nonwoven
fabric like laminate comprised of a silica fiber with diameters from hundreds nanometers to a few micrometers
and investigated the influence of fiber diameter on sound absorbing characteristics of it.
 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology 8

It is found that the flow resistivity increased with a decrease in fiber diameter, which is caused by an
increase in surface area of fiber. Even if laminates comprised of thinner silica fiber, SF1, 2 and 3 were thin, it
showed the high sound absorption. This is because of the sample vibration which is caused by high flow
resistivity and low stiffness of fiber.

Oldrich [7], study the nanofibers technology for difference application like air and liquid filters, wound
dressings, Tissue engineering, surface modifications and sound absorptive materials. They applied the nono
fibrous layers of different area densities on the basic fibrous material as shown in fig.14 and testing was carried
out for noise coefficient value. Results were obtained as shown in the fig. 15.

Jana Mohrova and Klara Kalinova[3], studied different structures of PVA nanofibrous membrane for sound
absorption application and find out that thin membrane can have influence on the amount of absorbed acoustic
energy. The possibility of a movement of nanofibers in structure and inner friction in polymer layer has as impact
on the final absorption of properties of the material.

Md Ayub, Anthony c. Zander [8], in their research work studied acoustic absorption behavior of carbon nanotube
(CNT) arrays. The results show that the 3mm forest of vertically arranged CNTs can provide as much as 5 % to
10% acoustic absorption and exhibits enhanced acoustic absorption performance as composite CNT and
conventional porous material panel. A comparison of the absorption ability between the CNT forest and
conventional porous materials showed that the CNT absorber of lower thickness and mass can achieve the
equivalent absorption coefficient to a conventional material. Based on the experimental investigation, it can be
concluded that the carbon nanotube has favorable acoustic absorption ability which has the potential to replace
the materials as an acoustic absorber.

us in our task of writing this review R. Gayathri [15] investigated the absorption, thermal and mechanical
behavior of polyurethane foam modified with Nano silica, Nano clay and Crumb rubber fillers. In this study new
polyurethane based porous composites were synthesized by in situ foam rising polymerization of polyol and
diisocyanate in the presence of fillers such as nano silica, crumb rubber and nano clay. The effect of these fillers
at various concentrations up to 2% was studied on sound absorption characteristics, thermal stability and
mechanical properties. Sound absorption coefficient was determined using impedance tube method. The sound
absorption coefficient of filled PU foam is found to be increasing from 0.5 to 0.8 with increasing frequency from
100 to 200 Hz at higher content of the fillers employed.

Amir Rabbi [18], the effects of applying polyurethane and polyacrylonitrile nanofibers within polyester and
wool nonwoven layers on sound proofing behavior were studied. The results show enhancement in sound
transmission loss by increasing the number and the weight per unit area of both nanofiber layers. Higher sound
transmission loss was observed in the case of samples containing PAN nanofiber layers, which can be
attributed to the higher air permeability and elasticity of PU compared to PAN nanofiber layers.

Sound absorption coefficient measurements show that adding nanofiber layers within nonwoven layers
leads increase sound absorption.

Conclusion

Nanomaterials have unique characteristics such as high surface area to volume ratio, good pore inter
connectivity, high porosity and the ability to incorporate active components on a nano scale. These
characteristics make nanofiber layers have different properties in comparison with conventional material like
glass wool and felts used for sound absorption. These unique characteristics of nano material and recent
development in the area of nano technology make the nano material more suitable to use in the field of noise
 9 D.V. Bihola / International Journal of Engineering Science and Futuristic Technology

control and the correction of acoustic environments, because it is possible to get advantage of improving the
acoustic characteristics of traditional material without increasing their weight and size.

An important property of nanofibrous materials are their high acoustic absorption, especially in the low-
frequency range of sound waves, where all other materials either fail or less effective. Nanofibrous materials
seem to be an extraordinary promising as acoustic barriers in many applications.

Acknowledgements

All authors extend their sincere thanks to their guide DR. (PROF.) S. S. Bhattacharya for their guidance,
valuable inputs and the cooperation provided by them. We are also thankful to every individual who knowingly or
unknowingly supported paper.

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