Abstract
The sound absorption characteristics of electro-spun Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fiber-based membranes were investigated at different layer thicknesses and back cavities. The sound absorption coefficient (alpha) was measured utilizing the impedance tube experimental set-up conforming to ASTM 1050 and ISO10534-2. The electro-spun PVP membranes were formulated into several layering combinations viz. 2, 4, 8, 16, and 20 sheets layered together to achieve higher sound absorption in the low-medium frequency range of 100 Hz-1600 Hz. The morphological characterization of the electro-spun samples was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Digital Microscope (DM). The experimental investigation indicates that the sound absorption coefficient escalates to higher values close to one at several frequencies, increasing material thickness and back cavity. The acoustic measurements demonstrate that these electro-spun PVP fiber composites offer better noise attenuation at a significantly reduced thickness than conventional materials. These composites can have applications in industries where volume-economy is a crucial factor.