Sound absorption property of carbonized medium density fiberboards at different carbonizing temperatures

Abstract

This study was carried out to use carbonized medium density fiberboard (MDF) for the replacement of sound absorbing material. Carbonization treatment was performed to improve sound absorption property for MDF at carbonizing temperatures of 500°C, 700°C, 900°C and 1100°C. As the carbonization temperature increased, the results of the observation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) demonstrated that the fibers exhibited a more compressed morphology within the surface section of the MDF than those within the middle section of MDF. As the carbonizing temperature increased, the cavity increased. The sound absorption coefficient increased between the temperatures of 500°C and 900°C, but decreased at a temperature of 1100°C. The sound absorption properties of the carbonized MDF and the non-carbonized MDF were compared. The maximum sound absorption coefficient of the carbonized MDF was 12.38%. This was almost double of the value of the non-carbonized MDF.