Examination of acoustic properties of polymer-coated nonwoven textile samples

In this study, different types of polymeric layers were coated in different weights (g/m2) on nonwoven fabrics by extrusion process and then, sound absorption and transmission loss properties of each sample were examined. Nonwoven fabrics were produced from polyester (PET) fiber, formed by the carding process and bonded by the needle punching process. These samples were tested between 50-6000 Hz frequency range to reveal the effect of polymer layer type and weight coated on nonwoven fabrics on the sound absorption and transmission loss performance at the low, medium, and high-frequency values. Polymer layers were coated with the weight of 400 gsm and 800 gsm. Nonwoven fabric samples coated with polyethylene or polypropylene layers and nonwoven fabric samples without polymeric coating were tested by using an impedance tube and compared in terms of sound absorption and transmission loss performance. In the test system, two sides of the samples were tested separately. It was seen that the sound absorption performance of the samples changed in case the sound wave was first incident to the polymeric layer or nonwoven layer.