Using Nonwoven Hollow Fibers to Improve Cars Interior Acoustic Properties

Abstract

The necessity and importance of protecting our environment is evident in this time and the high developed industrial nations are responsible in the first position The industrial fabrics industry will continue to develop to meet the needs of society and the growth of the industry is assured because industrial fabrics are leading the way for materials to be structured to solve problems and to be engineered to meet the special performance of products. In the past few years, car manufacturers have focused on automobile interiors from a merely function as not only do interior trims serve to differentiate models, but materials and designs can also be used to tailor the same model to different target groups. This research aims to produce nonwoven fabrics that can be used in car interior components (head liners, doors, side panels and trunk liners) to prevent noise from reaching the passenger compartment and so achieving comfort in the car interior. Two kinds of fibers were used polyester and hollow polyester fibers, both of 6 denier, to produce three different fabrics of 100 % polyester fibers, 75 % polyester /25 % hollow polyester fibers, and 55 % polyester /45 % hollow polyester fibers. Four fabric weights were produced 300, 400, 500 and 600 g/m(2). All samples were bonded using thermal bonding technique. More results were reached, for examples, samples produced with high percentage of hollow fibers had recorded the highest rates of sound absorption, whereas samples produced with 100% polyester fibers have recorded the lowest rates. It was also found that there are direct relationship between weight per m(2) and sound absorption efficiency. All samples have achieved the expected results and sample produced with 55% polyester/45% hollow polyester fibers and 600 g/m(2), have achieved the best results. [Abdelfattah, A. Mahmoud, Ghalia E. Ibrahim and Eman R. Mahmoud. Using Nonwoven Hollow Fibers to Improve Cars Interior Acoustic Properties. Life Science Journal. 2011; 8(1): 344-351] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.