Selvaraj Vinoth Kumar, Subramanian Jeyanthi, Dutt Sri Sai, Annamalai K, Natarajan Elango, Kumaresan S
School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
Mechatronics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 21;15(1):26460. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-10065-3.
As noise pollution intensifies in urban areas, the need for sustainable and effective sound-reducing porous materials becomes increasingly critical. This research addresses that need by developing gypsum-based composites enhanced with vermiculite and recycled rigid polyurethane (RPU) powder, using a blend-press-sinter methodology. Gypsum-based composites were chosen for their cost-effectiveness, recyclability, structural stability, and sound-absorbing properties, all with minimal environmental impact. This approach supports the circular economy by repurposing waste materials. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to analyze the size, structure, uniformity, and presence of organic and inorganic compounds. Using response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization, the ideal formulation for the noise reduction coefficient (NRC) was identified, with an optimal mix of 5.3 wt% vermiculite and 6.5 wt% RPU, achieving an NRC value of 0.3628. Acoustic simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics, guided by the Johnson-Allard model, demonstrated that the optimized composite effectively reduced sound pressure levels by 17 to 58 dB across the 200 to 2000 Hz frequency range. These findings underscore the composite's potential for room acoustics applications. By incorporating recycled and natural materials, this approach not only enhances acoustic performance but also promotes sustainable material practices.
随着城市地区噪声污染加剧，对可持续且有效的吸音多孔材料的需求变得愈发关键。本研究通过采用混合压制烧结法开发以蛭石和再生硬质聚氨酯（RPU）粉末增强的石膏基复合材料来满足这一需求。选择石膏基复合材料是因其具有成本效益、可回收性、结构稳定性和吸音性能，且对环境影响极小。这种方法通过将废料重新利用来支持循环经济。采用高分辨率扫描电子显微镜（HR-SEM）和傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）分析有机和无机化合物的尺寸、结构、均匀性及存在情况。利用响应面法（RSM）进行优化，确定了降噪系数（NRC）的理想配方，蛭石最佳混合比例为5.3 wt%，RPU为6.5 wt%，NRC值达到0.3628。在约翰逊-阿拉德模型指导下，使用COMSOL Multiphysics进行的声学模拟表明，优化后的复合材料在200至2000 Hz频率范围内可有效将声压级降低17至58 dB。这些发现凸显了该复合材料在室内声学应用中的潜力。通过纳入回收材料和天然材料这种方法不仅提高了声学性能，还促进了可持续材料实践。
