Acoustic and thermal performance of polypropylene nonwoven fabrics for insulation in buildings

Thermal insulation and acoustic absorption materials play a significant role in the characteristics of energy-saving comfortable modern buildings. However, these two types are generally developed independently. This study highlights potential lightweight polypropylene nonwoven fabrics for building applications investigates how fabric structure affects thermal acoustical properties. An industrial-scale melt spinning machine was used to produce fibers at linear densities 1.4 1.8 dtex. A semi-industrial needle punching line fabricate samples with three thicknesses (2, 3, 4 cm), four porosities (0.83, 0.88, 0.93, 0.96), different in- through-plane fiber orientation distributions. Totally, 31 were produced their sound performance assessed using impedance tube guarded hot plate techniques. Accordingly, conductivity (Keff) average (SAA) could be engineered range 0.0270–0.0404 W m-1K-1 0.270–0.675, respectively. It found that made finer provide superior performance. increase adversely affected properties, while its effect on properties depends porosity frequency. The results statistical analysis showed in-plane does not have behavior, except frequencies between 4000 6300 Hz. also significantly affect best achieved by fibrous layered dtex thickness 3 cm (Keff =0.0278 m-1K-1, SAA = 0.552) =0.0277 0.675). compared some commercial products literature data. pointed designed samples.