INVESTIGATION ON THE MALYSIAN DUABANGA MOLUCCANA CROSS SECTIONS AS SOUND ABSORBING FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS

This study focused on Duabanga moluccana, which is a fast-growing tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Duabanga moluccana cross sectional specimens were analyzed to gas permeability, pore size, and open-pore porosity and also measured its sound absorption coefficients with an impedance tube. Duabanga moluccanashowed a larger pore size and greater open-pore porosity than other hardwood species, and its sound absorbing performance was superior to that of the gypsum board currently used as a commercial ceiling material. Although this was a laboratory-scale investigation, we demonstrate that Duabanga moluccanacross sections have potential as a natural sound absorbing functional building material.