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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #196796
Title: Sound Dampening by Velour Nonwoven Systems in Automobiles

Author
item Parikh, Dharnidhar
item CHEN, Y. - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV
item Sachinvala, Navzer
item SUN, L. - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Review
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2006
Publication Date: 8/15/2006
Citation: Parikh, D.V., Chen, Y., Sachinvala, N.D., Sun, L. 2006. Sound Dampening by Velour Nonwoven Systems in Automobiles. American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Review. 6(8):40-44.

Interpretive Summary: A quiet passenger compartment in a car is extremely important to automobile manufacturers. Several methods to reduce noise and its sources are employed, one of which reduces noise in the passenger compartment using sound absorbing materials attached to various components such as doors, quarter panels, trunk sides and floors, and headliners. Since European cars are using Velour nonwovens in their interiors, we obtained four velour fabrics from Fehrer AG, Austria and determined the sound absorption coefficients of velours, and velour stacked with highloft underpads (made with recycled fibers) by the standard ASTM E 1050. Velours are aesthetically pleasing low cost, lightweight fabrics. The results of testing demonstrate that each of the velours and the velour systems contribute to the sound absorptive properties and are effective for overall noise reduction in the vehicle. That's why they are used in auto interiors.

Technical Abstract: Four aesthetically pleasing velour nonwoven fabrics were obtained from Fehrer AG, Austria. Using ASTM E 1050, we determined the sound absorption coefficients of each of these fabrics, and of the stacked velour fabrics and highloft pads that make trunk lining systems. The trunk lining systems have excellent sound absorption capabilities, e.g., coefficients = 0.825-0.995 at 3000Hz and 0.735-0.995 at 2500Hz, explaining why they are used as soundproofing materials in European automobiles. Velour nonwovens are attractive because of the soft hand of the short thick pile, having a rich textile-like feel that is compliant and pliable, and above all they are inexpensive.