Optimization of Experimental Conditions for Fabrication of Polyurethane Foam Filled With Wood Fibers as Sound Absorptive Materials

Abstract

This is to highlight that the present study is to substitute petroleum based polymer and thus, reducing the dependency on the consumption of petroleum based oil products. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to optimize the design and performance of polyurethane (PU) foams filled wood fibers using design of experiment method (DoE).  This study focused on fabrication of polyurethane (PU) foams and its composites based on renewable bioepoxy (B) and petroleum based synthetic epoxy (E), crosslinker and wood fibers. The PUs foams were prepared in a cylindrical shape with 100 mm and 28 mm diameter in respect to low and high frequency absorption level as well as the sound absorption coefficient (?) according to ASTM E1050. The experimental data from impedance tube test results were discussed on ? values. The effect of different size of wood filler loading in PUs foam and its composites were analyzed and discussed in detail such as main pore size, interconnected pore, struts thickness and ?.  Meanwhile, UV accelerated weathering test, was conducted according to ASTM D 4587, to investigate the acoustical properties of polymer foam composite upon ultra-violet (UV) irradiation time exposure. Results concluded that the longer time UV irradiation exposure produced bigger main pore and interconnected pore size and appear to reduce the value of ?.