Sound and Thermal Insulation Properties of Flax / Low Melt PET Needle Punched Nonwovens

What is it about?

Noise pollution is an ever increasing problem in the world because of the industrial revolution. Recently, researchers have begun investigating natural fiber composites as potential materials for the manufacture of sound absorption structures. In this work, flax / low melting point polyester needle punched nonwoven fabrics were manufactured and characterized for sound and thermal insualtion applications. Nonwovens were developed by blending flax fibers with low melt PET at 3 blend ratios (10%, 20% & 30%) with two different needle penetration depth (7mm & 10 mm). The influence of needle penetration depth and % of low melt PET on physical and insulation properties of the developed nonwovens were investigated. The test results showed that there was an increase in thermal conductivity value with increase in low melt PET % and needle penetration depth. The developed nonwovens showed good sound insulation value at medium and high frequency. There was no significant change in sound insulation value with increase in low melt PET %.

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Why is it important?

In this work, flax / low melt PET needle punched nonwovens were developed with 3 different low melt PET % using 7 mm and 10 mm needle penetration depth. The influence of blend ratio and needle penetration depth on insulation properties of nonwovens was investigated. All the developed nonwovens showed good thermal insulation values. The thermal insulation behavior of the developed nonwovens decreased with increase in low melt PET percentage and needle penetration depth. The developed nonwovens showed good sound absorption at medium and high frequency. Among the developed nonwovens, 80/20 flax/ low melt PET nonwoven fabric manufactured using 10 mm needle penetration has very good acoustic and thermal insulation properties. The present results showed that flax/ low melt PET nonwovens have very good acoustic and thermal insulation properties and show promise as environmentally safe and sustainable replacements for commercially available glass fibrous mat.