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The 1st International Conference on Engineering and Applied Science IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1381 (2019) 012065 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1381/1/012065

Acoustic absorptive properties of Kapok fiber, Kapok fiber

layered tricot fabric and Kapok fiber layered double weave
fabric

A I Makki, E Oktariani*
Politeknik STTT Bandung, Jalan Jakarta No. 31 Bandung

Corresponding author : ekaoktariani90@gmail.com

Abstract. Kapok fiber was one of the natural cellulosic fiber that can be found widely in Asia’s
forest especially in Indonesia. Kapok fiber was short and smooth surface causing poor inter-
fiber cohesion that could not be processed in spinning. This fiber could be utilized to be
accoustic sound proofing material. This research investigated about absorptive properties of non
woven kapok fiber (SK) and its layered combination with tricot knitted fabric (TC) and double
weave fabric (DWK). Combination of various kind of fabric’s type improved thickness and air
cavity that impact absorptive properties of fabric. Impedance tube were used to characterization
sound absorptive properties at low until normal frequency on 100 until 5000 Hz. The optimum
sound absorptive were showed by combination of non woven kapok fiber with double weave
fabric with thicknes 11,25 mm. It shows thickness impact to air cavity and gave significant effect
to sound absorptive properties.

1. Introduction
Prolonged exposure to noise pollution has harmful effect for human health. Noise exposure could cause
cognitive decline and health problem such as high stress level, sleep disturbance, hearing impairment
and cardiovascular effect. According to WHO, more than 30% of the population in EU countries is
exposed to noise exposure at night. The growing awareness towards engineering and research to obtain
sound absorbing material as noise control. Sound absorbing material are generally made from synthetic
fiber that consumes high energy level on production process. In contrast, sustainable material have good
potency as sound absorbing materials [1]. The previous research shows that natural kenaf fiber [1] and
Pineapple leaf fiber [2] gave good results as sound absorber material. Kapok fiber is one of natural fiber
that have good potency as sound absorber material. kapok fiber have good potency as sound absorbing
material due to its special properties that increase the chance of friction between sound wave and fibers
[3]. Kapok fiber is a buoyancy material, combining kapok fiber with low melting fiber can improve the
bouyancy charactheristic of kapok fiber assemblies [3]. The previous research shows kapok fiber with
smaller bulk density compared with glass wool gave similiar absorbancy coefficient [3]. The recent
research shows that combining kapok fiber with polypropilene fiber provide very good sound
absorption behaviour in 250 – 2000 Hz [4]. Production of kapok fiber as sound absorber material
required less energy and less chemical compound.

Textile plays important role in sound absorber material. There was some factor that give
significant impact on sound absorbing material such as bulk density, thickness and arrangement of fiber
[1]. Knitted and woven are potential for sound absorbing material, altough, both of them have micro-
perforated acoustic absorption panel, they have different acoustic absorption mechanism[5]. Sound
absorption properties of knitted fabric are highly influenced by fabric structure [6]. In the other hand,

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The 1st International Conference on Engineering and Applied Science IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1381 (2019) 012065 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1381/1/012065

Non woven fabric contains micron and submicron pores making them preferred as sound absorbing
material [7]. There is many factors that can improve sound absorptive properties of non woven fabric,
such as fiber parameters, process parameter and physical parametes [8]. This paper focuses on
assesment kapok fiber and its layered combination to absorbance properties.

2. Methods Research
This research were used three types of fabric : tricot knitted fabric , double weave fabric, and non woven
fabric from kapok fiber. All fabric were made in Polytechnic STTT Bandung. Tricot knitted fabric were
produced on Double Needle Knitted Fabric RD7/2-12 EN/119740 (Karl Meyer, Germany) using
polyester fiber 100%. Structure of tricot knitted fabric shows on Fig. 1

Figure 1. Structure of Tricot Fabric

Double weave fabric were produced on Toyoda Machinery using 1/3 twill effect on top surface
and 3/1 twill effect for bottom surface as seen on Fig. 2. Cotton fiber are used as materials on double
weave fabric.

Figure 2. Weaving Plan for Double Weave Fabric

Non woven fabric from kapok fiber were processed by mixing 25% low melt polyester binder
with kapok fiber using manual thermal bounding machine at temperature 130oC. Each non-woven
kapok fabric then layered by tricot knitted fabric and double weave fabric. Characterization of sound
absorption properties was measured by impedance tube in the frequency range 100 – 5000 Hz [9,10].
GSM (Gram Square Metre) was measured using SNI ISO 3801 Method and thickness of fabric was
observed using SNI ISO 5084 Method to discover characteristic properties of fabrics and relation to
sound absorption properties [11,12].
3. Result and Discussion
3.1. Morphological Structure
Sound absorption properties is highly influenced by morphological structure of fiber. The cross
sectional of kapok fiber as shown in figure 3, denote irregular oval to round shape. The longitudinal

2
The 1st International Conference on Engineering and Applied Science IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1381 (2019) 012065 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1381/1/012065

view shows a hollow morphological structure, a special structure on natural fiber that play role on
sound absorption properties.

Figure 3. Morphological structure of Kapok fiber

Buoyancy behaviour on kapok fiber are affected by hollow stucture. These charachteristic makes
kapok fiber has high porosity resulting improvement on sound absorption properties. Large diameter of
cross sectional kapok fiber increases friction resistance between air and fibre, resulting dissipation of
energy [13]. This unique structure enabled the air of sound wave diffuse between and into the fibre.
3.2. Thickness
Thickness was observed in each sample as shows in Figure 4. Data in figure 4, indicates thicknes on
this research was not give significant impact. Altough TC Fabric was the highest thickness, DWK fabric
absorb sound more effective than other fabric. This phenomena conducted due to Tricot fabric and non
woven kapok fiber have high thickness because of spacer apart the fabric, but the space area was highly
loose and open structure. The sound energy could through the fabric easily, caused sound energy
transmitted. This phenomenon are suitable with previous research, that explain the fabric with loose
open structure has lowest sound absorption properties [14].

14
Sound Absorption coefficient (α)

12
0.1391 0.1446 0.150
0.150
Thickness (mm)

10 0.1471
0.118 0.136
8 0.1196 0.1246
0.1205
6 0.1006
0.1073 0.100
4 0.0907

0 0.050
SK TC DWK

Thickness (mm) 500 250 314 400

Figure 4. Relation between Thickness and Sound Absorption Coefficient

3.3. Density
Sound Absorption coeffiecient on various sample was observed. Graphic in Figure 5 shows all sound
absorber material give similiar coefficient absorbancy, 0,98, at High frequency 5000Hz. Otherwise non
woven kapok fiber layered by double weave fabric (DWK) give the best results at frequency between
1600 - 3160Hz compared with single non-woven kapok fiber (SK) and kapok fiber layered by tricot
fabric (TC), there was 0.95, 0.89, 0.90 perspectively. This phenomenon due to complex pores structure
on DWK cause the sound wave trapped on the fabric and absorb to the fabric. Twill effect on double
3
The 1st International Conference on Engineering and Applied Science IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1381 (2019) 012065 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1381/1/012065

layer woven fabric obstruct sound energy to release. In the other hand, Tricot fabric have perforated
structure with big pores it cause the energy are released easily.

1.2

0.8

0.6
α

0.4

0.2

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
Frequncy (Hz)

SK TC DWK

Figure 4. Sound Absorption Coeficient on Various Fabric

Density is the most important factor on sound absorption properties. Dense properties of sound
absorber were affected by material and web formation of material, as shown in Figure 6.

0.08 0.986736 1
0.988783

sound absorption coefficient (α)

0.985845
0.8
0.06 0.736785
Density (g/cm3)

0.659496 0.674077 0.6

0.04
0.418372 0.4
0.402513 0.389938
0.02
0.2

0 0
SK TC DWK
Density (g/cm3) 500 1000 2000 5000

Figure 5. Relation Density of Fabric to Sound Absorption Coefficient

Figure 5 shows relation between density of various fabric to sound absorption coefficient on
the range frequency 500 – 5000 Hz. DWK fabric have high density however the density is still can
absorb the sound energy. Double weave fabric has open structure forming flexible complex pores
between warp and weft.This structure impact to high friction and resistance between air and fiber. DWK
were composed by cotton and kapok fiber. Both of this fiber have good absorption properties resulting
good absorption properties on DWK fabric.
4. Conclusion
Textile has potential properties as sound absorber material. Woven, knitted and non woven fabric are
most commonly textile product that could be used as sound absorber material. This material could
absorb the sound energy and convert into heat energy. Fiber material, thickness, and density of sound
4
The 1st International Conference on Engineering and Applied Science IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1381 (2019) 012065 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1381/1/012065

absorber material are major factors that impact significantly to sound absorption properties. Non woven
kapok fabric layered by double weave fabric give good result in absorbing sound at range frequency
100 – 5000 Hz.

References
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[3] Zheng, Yian dkk. 2015. Research and Application of Kapok Fiber as an Absorbing Material :
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[4] Veerakumar, A., Selvakumar, N. 2012. A Preliminary Investigation on Kapok/Polypropylene
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[10] . 1998. ISO 10534-2: Acoustic –Determination of absorption coefficient and impedance
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[12] . 2010. SNI ISO 5084: Cara Uji Tebal Tekstil dan Produk Tekstil
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