Acoustic performance of fibreboard composed of different composition of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) and Oil Palm Frond (OPF)

• Main Author: Mageswaran Ravi Chandran
• Format: text::Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2023

The demand for sound-absorbing material is increasing day by day. Since the awareness of the health issues on humans and animals, synthetic fibre market as sound absorbing material has gone down. The demand for natural fibre to replace synthetic material as sound-absorbing material is skyrocketing. As a known fact, natural fibre is more eco-friendly, biodegradable and most importantly is it does not pose a threat to human health. This particular research explored the acoustic properties of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) and Oil Palm Frond (OPF) natural fibre at different mixing ratio of (50% EFB – 50% OPF, 40% EFB – 60% OPF, 30% EFB – 70% OPF and 20% EFB – 80% OPF) in thickness of 12 mm, 14 mm, 16 mm and 18 mm. The experiment was conducted using the Impedance Tube Method (ITM) where all the sixteen EFB and OPF fibreboard were tested for Sound Absorption Coefficient, SAC (α) and Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM. From the results obtained, it shows that all the samples have very excellent acoustic property. Above 3500 Hz, all samples possessed a SAC value of more than 0.70 and above. All the samples exhibited a range of SAC values of 0.97 – 1.00 (unity) at a high-frequency range of 5000 Hz to 6400 Hz. The SAC values are found to increase as the thickness increases for all the mixture percentages. As compared to Mesocarp, Kenaf and other wood fibres, the mixture of EFB and OPF natural fibres have a more promising sound absorption rate. For SEM micrograph results, it can be clearly seen and identified the microstructure content of EFB and OPF mixture that aided in enhancing the acoustic properties of the material. The morphology content that can enhance the acoustic properties is Lignin and Hemicellulose. Lignin may affect the absorption rate where Hemicellulose may enhance the acoustic properties. The best combination of EFB and OPF natural fibre are (40% - 60%), where the diameter of the fibres OPF are smaller than EFB fibres