Developing thin acoustic panels for sound absorption in architectural applications

有效和高效的噪声控制，特别是低频噪声的吸收，一直是许多工业部门，如交通运输、制造业、建筑业等的主要技术挑战。在许多生活、工作和娱乐场所，人们都非常希望安静。噪音是一种污染源，对人类健康造成严重的负面影响，如听力损害和心理疾病。现有的吸声材料一般不能完全消除噪声。此外，常用的吸声材料，如非织造布、矿棉、玻璃纤维和泡沫材料，由于纤维类材料可能会将纤维释放到空气中，因此对环境和健康有很大的危害。开发高性能、环保的吸声材料是迫切需要的。

Effective and efficient noise control, particularly the low-frequencies noise absorption, has been a major technical challenge in many industrial sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, construction, etc.. Quietness is highly desired in many living, working and entertainment places. Noise is a source of pollution that brings seriously negative impact on human health, such as hearing impairment and psychological diseases. The existing sound absorbing materials are generally not competent enough to eliminate noise. In addition, the commonly used sound absorbing materials such as nonwovens, mineral wool, fibrous glass and foam materials, have great environmental disadvantages and health concerns because the fibrous type materials may release fibers into the air. It is urgently required to develop high performance sound and environmentally friendly materials for effective sound absorption. CedarCrest Wood Products Ltd., the industrial partner of this project, is specialized in producing lightweight panels for construction industry for more than 27 years. Currently, CedarCrest has received considerable amount of requests to provide acoustical ceiling or wall tiles for architectural applications. It is strategically important for CedarCrest to develop new acoustic panel products in order to strengthen their leader position in the existing market of construction materials and to develop new business opportunities as well. The motivation of this proposal is to design and fabricate high performance, thin and lightweight acoustic panels. Together with the industrial partner, our goal is to minimize the material change from the existing materials being used and decrease the panel thickness, but improve the sound absorption performance and maintain the structure integrity for architectural applications.