Sound Absorption Properties of Syntactic Foam Reinforced by Warp-knitted Spacer Fabric

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the sound absorption properties of syntactic foam reinforced by warp-knitted spacer fabric (SF-WKSF). SF-WKSF was served as micro-perforated panel (MPP) sound absorber and different kinds of SF-WKSF samples were fabricated with warp-knitted spacer fabric (WKSF) of various surface layer structures and parameters. These parameters included inclination angle and fineness of spacer yarns, air cavity depth, microballoons types as well as microballoons contents. The acoustical behaviors of SF-WKSF and neat syntactic foam (NSF) were tested according to transfer function method. The results show that the SF-WKSF has better sound absorption properties compared to NSF. It is also demonstrated that the fabric surface structures, spacer yarn fineness and inclination angle, air cavity depth, microballoons contents and types have significant effects on the sound absorbability of SF-WKSF, meanwhile their performances of absorbing noise can be tailored by adjusting the parameters of spacer fabric, microballoons or air cavity.