Studies on the Effect of Hybridization on Sound Insulation of Coir-banana-polypropylene Hybrid Biocomposites.

Natural fiber-based hybrid composites have been explored in this study as possible structural materials. Detailed investigation of sound insulation property of a series of hybrid and nonhybrid composites has been carried out using impedance tube having four microphones. Hybrid biocomposites were prepared with chopped and randomly oriented coir and banana fibers. Polypropylene was used as a matrix and compression molding technique was used for composite fabrication. The ratio of both fibers in hybrid biocomposites was maintained at 1:1. The effect of fiber loading and arrangement of fibers on sound insulation property of composites was investigated. It was found that fiber loading and hybridization bear a significant role in improving sound insulation property of hybrid composites. Experimental results showed that increase in fiber loading considerably improved the sound insulation up to a certain limit. The sound insulation property of hybrid and nonhybrid composites has been subsequently discussed. The results showed that sound insulation performance can be customized by structural parameters such as volume fraction, dispersion, ratio, and placement of fibers with respect to sound source, without necessitating a change in raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]