Acoustic performance of coir fiber-reinforced starch-based bio composites

This article explores the acoustic properties of a bio-composite material derived from coconut plant waste and potato starch material. The material consists of coir fiber as reinforcement and starch as a binding agent, produced using the hot press technique. To improve structural durability, a glass fiber layer was added to one side of the test sample. The study used the impedance tube method to measure the sound absorption coefficient of the newly developed material. It investigated the effects of material composition, thickness, and structural arrangement relative to the sound source on sound absorption. The results reveal that these factors significantly influence sound absorption properties. The fibrous structure achieved the highest noise reduction coefficient when facing the sound source with maximum thickness. The maximum sound absorption coefficient, ranging from 0.35 to 0.4, was observed in the higher frequency range, while the lower frequency range showed more variability in results. Starch-based composites are known for their environment friendly nature and find its applications in various sectors including packaging, consumer goods and automotive too.