Journal of Vibration and Sound

Journal of Vibration and Sound

Acoustic Properties and Application of Nanofibers in Sound-Absorbing Materials

Authors
1 Department of Textile Engineering, Yi. C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Department of Textile Engineering, Yi. C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
In recent years, noise pollution has been recognized as a major environmental challenge, and its destructive biological and psychological effects on humans and other living organisms have been demonstrated. The use of sound‑absorbing materials as an efficient method for noise reduction holds a special place in acoustic engineering. Among these materials, textile nanofibers, due to features such as ultra‑fine diameter, high specific surface area, and large porosity, can effectively improve the acoustic properties of materials without increasing weight and thickness. This paper also examines the mechanisms of sound absorption by nanofibers, reviews recent advances in the design and optimization of nanofibrous structures, and surveys their novel applications in noise reduction. The review results indicate that designing these structures by controlling parameters such as polymer type, fiber geometry, porosity level, layer thickness, and the method of combining with nanoparticles plays a decisive role in optimizing sound‑absorption performance across different frequency ranges. These findings provide a prospect for designing advanced acoustic absorbers with targeted frequency performance suitable for urban and industrial environments.
Keywords
Subjects

[1] قاجاریه، عطیه، اعظم طالبیان، و سیما حبیبی. «مروری بر کاربرد نانو الیاف در عایق‌های صوتی» دوازدهمین کنفرانس ملی مهندسی نساجی ایران، یزد، 1400.
[2] Zhu, Shubing, Deshan Cheng, and Xiaoning Tang. "Recent advances on the fabrication and application of sound absorption coating-based textile composites." Textile Research Journal 94, no. 17-18 (2024): 2044-2062.
[3] Arain, Muhammad Fahad. "Nanomaterials for enhanced acoustic properties." In Nanotechnology to Monitor, Remedy, and Prevent Pollution, pp. 77-83. Elsevier, 2024.
[4] Thilagavathi, G. N. K. S., S. Neela Krishnan, N. Muthukumar, and Santhana Krishnan. "Investigations on sound absorption properties of luffa fibrous mats." Journal of Natural Fibers 15, no. 3 (2018): 445-451.
[5] Li, Xiuhong, Yujie Peng, Youqi He, Chupeng Zhang, Daode Zhang, and Yong Liu. "Research progress on sound absorption of electrospun fibrous composite materials." Nanomaterials 12, no. 7 (2022): 1123.
[6] Shao, Xiaofei, and Xiong Yan. "Sound absorption properties of nanofiber membrane-based multi-layer composites." Applied Acoustics 200 (2022): 109029.
[7] Chang, Longfei, Ajuan Jiang, Manting Rao, Fuyin Ma, Haibo Huang, Zicai Zhu, Yu Zhang, Yucheng Wu, Bo Li, and Ying Hu. "Progress of low-frequency sound absorption research utilizing intelligent materials and acoustic metamaterials." RSC advances 11, no. 60 (2021): 37784-37800.
[8] Puguan, John Marc C., David Brylle A. Agbayani, Ariel Jan V. Sadural, and Hern Kim. "Enhanced low frequency sound absorption of bilayer nanocomposite acoustic absorber laminated with microperforated nanofiber felt." ACS Applied Polymer Materials 5, no. 11 (2023): 8880-8889.
[9] Shao, Xiaofei, and Xiong Yan. "Simulation, Measurement, and Optimization of Sound Absorption in Nanofiber Membrane Composite with a Nonwoven Material." Polymers 17, no. 7 (2025): 874.
[10] Kalinova, Klara. "A nanofibrous acoustic system based on the cavity/membrane resonance principle." Textile Research Journal 88, no. 6 (2018): 644-653.
[11] Zhang, Chunchun, Huiqin Li, Jixian Gong, Jiahao Chen, Zheng Li, Qiujin Li, Meilin Cheng, Xin Li, and Jianfei Zhang. "The review of fiber-based sound-absorbing structures." Textile Research Journal 93, no. 1-2 (2023): 434-449.
[12] Ulrich, Tomáš, and Jorge P. Arenas. "Sound absorption of sustainable polymer nanofibrous thin membranes bonded to a bulk porous material." Sustainability 12, no. 6 (2020): 2361.
[13] Tang, Xiaoning, and Xiong Yan. "Acoustic energy absorption properties of fibrous materials: A review." Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 101 (2017): 360-380.
[14] Cao, Leitao, Qiuxia Fu, Yang Si, Bin Ding, and Jianyong Yu. "Porous materials for sound absorption." Composites Communications 10 (2018): 25-35.
[15] Zhu, Xiaodong, Birm-June Kim, Qingwen Wang, and Qinglin Wu. "Recent Advances in the Sound Insulation Properties of Bio-based Materials." BioResources 9, no. 1 (2014).
[16] Bhat, Gajanan, and Magdi El Messiry. "Effect of microfiber layers on acoustical absorptive properties of nonwoven fabrics." Journal of Industrial Textiles 50, no. 3 (2020): 312-332.
[17] Kalinova, Klara. "The application of nanofibrous resonant membranes for room acoustics." Nanomaterials 13, no. 6 (2023): 1115.
[18] Kucukali-Ozturk, Merve, Elif Ozden-Yenigun, Banu Nergis, and Cevza Candan. "Nanofiber-enhanced lightweight composite textiles for acoustic applications." Journal of Industrial Textiles 46, no. 7 (2017): 1498-1510.
[19] اوحدی همدانی، عبدالرضا، و ابوالفضل حسنی بافرانی. ۱۴۰۰. «مواد متخلخل جاذب صوت بخش دوم: مکانیزم‌های جذب صوت و مدل‌سازی.» مجله علمی صوت و ارتعاش، پیاپی ۲۰ (پاییز و زمستان): ۳۲۳.
[20] Allard, Jean, and Noureddine Atalla. Propagation of sound in porous media: modelling sound absorbing materials. John Wiley & Sons, 2009.
[21] Cox, Trevor, and Peter d’Antonio. Acoustic absorbers and diffusers: theory, design and application. CRC press, 2016.
[22] Neuwerk, Karsten, Michael Haupt, and Götz T. Gresser. "Sound absorption by textile resonators." Vibroengineering Procedia 31 (2020): 103-108.
[23] Hassan, Tufail, Hafsa Jamshaid, Rajesh Mishra, Muhammad Qamar Khan, Michal Petru, Martin Tichy, and Miroslav Muller. "Factors affecting acoustic properties of natural-fiber-based materials and composites: a review." Textiles 1, no. 1 (2021): 55-85.
[24] Feng, Zhiting, and Yuanjun Liu. "The latest research status of porous sound-absorbing materials." Journal of Polymer Engineering 45, no. 3 (2025): 207-225.
[25] Soltani, Parham, and Mohammad Zerrebini. "The analysis of acoustical characteristics and sound absorption coefficient of woven fabrics." Textile Research Journal 82, no. 9 (2012): 875-882.
[26] Huiping, Tang, Wang Jianzhong, Ao Qingbo, and Zhi Hao. "Effect of pore structure on performance of porous metal fiber materials." Rare Metal Materials and Engineering 44, no. 8 (2015): 1821-1826.
[27] Xie, Suchao, Da Wang, Zhejun Feng, and Shichen Yang. "Sound absorption performance of microperforated honeycomb metasurface panels with a combination of multiple orifice diameters." Applied Acoustics 158 (2020): 107046.
[28] داودآبادی، محمد؛ اصغریان جدی، علی‌اصغر؛ جمشیدی اوانکی، مصطفی. 1399. «جذب صوت پارچه‌های دو جداره حلقوی تاری بر اساس ضخامت»، مجله علمی صوت و ارتعاش، 9(17)، 1826.
[29] Amares, S., E. Sujatmika, T. W. Hong, R. Durairaj, and H. S. H. B. Hamid. "A review: characteristics of noise absorption material." In Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 908, no. 1, p. 012005. IOP Publishing, 2017.
[30] Ravandi, Mohammad Reza Ghotbi, Hossein Mardi, Ali Akbar Alinaghi Langari, Mostafa Mohammadian, and Narges Khanjani. "A review on the acoustical properties of natural and synthetic noise absorbents." Open Access Library Journal 2, no. 8 (2015): 1-11.
[31] Dunne, R., D. Desai, and R. Sadiku. "A review of the factors that influence sound absorption and the available empirical models for fibrous materials." Acoustics Australia 45, no. 2 (2017): 453-469.
[32] Muhammad, M., N. Sa’at, Hasril Naim, Mahdi Che Isa, Nik Hassanuddin Nik Yussof, and Mohd Subhi Din Yati. "The effect of air gap thickness on sound absorption coefficient of polyurethane foam." Def ST Tech Bull 5, no. 2 (2012): 176-187.
[33] Koizumi, Tsujiuchi, N. Tsujiuchi, and A. Adachi. "The development of sound absorbing materials using natural bamboo fibers." WIT Transactions on The Built Environment 59 (2002): 157-166.
[34] Shao, Xiaofei, and Xiong Yan. "Simulation, Measurement, and Optimization of Sound Absorption in Nanofiber Membrane Composite with a Nonwoven Material." Polymers 17, no. 7 (2025): 874.
[35] طالبیان، اعظم؛ حبیبی، سیما؛ قاجاریه، عطیه؛ علی‌اکبری، شیوا. 1403. «بررسی حذف نیکل و آهن از پساب توسط نانوالیاف پلی‌آکریلونیتریل/ترموپلاستیک پلی‌یورتان»، فصلنامه علوم و فناوری نساجی و پوشاک، 13(4)، 111.
[36] Gao, Bing, Liuyang Zuo, and Baoqi Zuo. "Sound absorption properties of spiral vane electrospun PVA/nano particle nanofiber membrane and non-woven composite material." Fibers and Polymers 17, no. 7 (2016): 1090-1096.
[37] آذریون, حسین, الهامی, محمد رضا. 1401. «افت انتقال صوت در پوسته‌‏های استوانه‌ای کامپوزیتی هوشمند پیزوالکتریک تحت امواج صوتی», مجله علمی صوت و ارتعاش, 11(21),72-46.  
[38] کوشینا، کوشا؛ حبیبی، سیما؛ طالبیان، اعظم. 1397. «بررسی ریزساختار نانوالیاف ژلاتین الکتروریسی‌شده»، فصلنامه علوم و فناوری نساجی و پوشاک، 7(1)، 16.
 [39] Koosha, Kooshina, Habibi, Sima, Talebian, Aazam. 2017. “Microstructural Study of Nylon-6/Gelatin Composite Nanofibers”, Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry, 90(10), 1640–1647.
[40] Habibi, Sima, Ghajarieh, Atieh, Ahmadi, Shervin. 2024. “A Review on Potential Applications of PLA Nanofibers”, Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry, 97, 803–818.
[41]  تقی زاده, جهان, بابازاده تبلی, رضا, تلخابی, عباس. 1396. «مقایسه رفتار صوتی- مکانیکی ماده مرکب پایه اپوکسی تقویت شده با الیاف شیشه و پلی پروپیلن», مجله علمی صوت و ارتعاش, 6(11),  93-77.
[42] Karaca, Neslihan, İlkay Özsev Yüksek, Nuray Ucar, Ayşen Önen, and Cafer Kirbaş. "Sound absorption and thermal insulation properties of composite thermoplastic polyurethane/polystyrene (TPU/PS) nanofiber web and TPU nanofiber web and PS-extracted TPU/PS microfiber web." Journal of Industrial Textiles 51, no. 5_suppl (2022): 7963S-7982S.
 [43] Liu, Huan, and Baoqi Zuo. "Structure and sound absorption properties of spiral vane electrospun PVA/PEO nanofiber membranes." Applied Sciences 8, no. 2 (2018): 296.
[44] Huang, Chenyan, Yalong Liu, Shu Yang, Hongming Xiang, Ying Jin, Saihong Cao, and Kaikai Chen. "Fabrication and acoustic absorption properties of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membranes." Physica Scripta 100, no. 2 (2025): 025902.
[45] Hajizadeh, Roohalah, Ali Khavanin, Mohammad Barmar, Ahmad Jonidi Jafari, and Somayeh Farhang Dehghan. "Improving the sound absorption properties of flexible polyurethane (PU) foam using nanofibers and nanoparticles." Sound Vib 53, no. 5 (2019): 207-222.
[46] Liu, Huan, and Baoqi Zuo. "Sound absorption property of PVA/PEO/GO nanofiber membrane and non-woven composite material." Journal of Industrial Textiles 50, no. 4 (2020): 512-525.
[47] Qamoshi, Khadijeh, and Reza Rasuli. "Subwavelength structure for sound absorption from graphene oxide-doped polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers." Applied Physics A 122, no. 9 (2016): 788.
[48] Zhou, Jing, Xianglong Li, Zhao Zhang, Teng Hou, Jingying Xu, Yaru Wang, Hao Ye, and Bin Yang. "Bio-based and bio-degradable nanofiber materials: A sustainable platform for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications." Chemical Engineering Journal 491 (2024): 152105.
[49] Shen, Lu, Haoruo Zhang, Yanzhou Lei, Yang Chen, Mei Liang, and Huawei Zou. "Hierarchical pore structure based on cellulose nanofiber/melamine composite foam with enhanced sound absorption performance." Carbohydrate Polymers 255 (2021): 117405.
[50] Dinesh, Hanbin Wang, and Jaehwan Kim. "Citric Acid‐Crosslinked Highly Porous Cellulose Nanofiber Foam Prepared by an Environment‐Friendly and Simple Process." Global Challenges 6, no. 11 (2022): 2200090.
[51] Ma, Yan, Mu He, Jiaxuan Wang, Fuying Ma, Hongbo Yu, Yaxian Zhou, and Shangxian Xie. "Collagen Nanofiber‐Lignin Composite Sponges with Adjustable Hierarchical Pore Structure for Efficient Low‐Frequency Sound Absorption." Advanced Science 12, no. 10 (2025): 2412583.
[52] Kucukali Ozturk, Merve, Fatma Banu Nergis, and Cevza Candan. "Design of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber–coated nonwoven structure for sound absorption." Polymers for Advanced Technologies 29, no. 4 (2018): 1255-1260.
[53] Shao, Xiaofei, and Xiong Yan. "Simulation, Measurement, and Optimization of Sound Absorption in Nanofiber Membrane Composite with a Nonwoven Material." Polymers 17, no. 7 (2025): 874.
[54] Xing, Jian, Zhen Liu, Ying Shen, and Chunhong Zhu. "Design of Environmentally Friendly Sound-Absorbing Composites with Multi-scale Pore Size Based on Porous Polylactic Acid Nanofibers." Fibers and Polymers (2025): 1-10.