Sound is created by the variation of oscillation wave due to the changes in pressure in a medium that composed of different sets of frequency range, that can be diagnosed both by animal or human auditory system that later be transmitted to brain to be analysed. Noise is unwanted sound, which is harmful to our auditory system. It is imperative that sound requires reduction and control due to the adverse effect noise poses to human health, knowledge dissemination, and tranquility which is increasing daily due to industrialization and heightened allied activities. Sound absorbing materials are used in reducing, eliminating or insulating the noise. Existing sound absorbing materials are mostly made from asbestos and synthetic materials, which are known to be harmful for the environment and health.  The use of natural and synthetic reinforced composites in noise pollution control is an emerging area of research. The different structure of sound absorbing materials, including porous structure, hollow structure, multi-dimensional size and length structure or solid composite materials have their unique sound absorbing characteristics upon interacting with a variety of sound frequency and intensity. This study aims to develop and characterize fly ash nanoparticles reinforced epoxy resin composite for acoustic applications. Fly ash samples were obtain from south west Nigeria and processed into nanoparticle, while epoxy resin was used as the polymer matrix,  Fly ash reinforced nanocomposite were prepared with fly ash nanoparticles at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% volume fraction. Mechanical (hardness, impact, flexural strength), porosity and noise reduction coefficient properties of reinforced composite were investigated. Procssed fly ash particles, indicated the formation of cenospheres when characterized separately with the aid of sieve analysis and x-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). The cenospheres obtained were hollow, spherical and lightweight, inert filler material. Correlation between porosity of the samples and their sound absorption properties was observed and showed that as porosity increased, the noise reduction coefficient values increased and as the porosity decreased the noise reduction coefficient values decreased. It was also observed that heat of polymerization, fly ash nanoparticles structure and air bubbles during sample preparation (mixing) influenced the porosity values which in turn influenced the noise reduction coefficient values of the nanocomposite. There was also a steady decrease in hardness values, impact strength and flexural strength, as reinforcement’s increases (5%, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, and 25 %), this was attributed to the high surface areas and shape of reinforcement added.

 

Keywords: acoustic; nanoparticles; cenospheres; fly ash; epoxy; porosity


Development and Characterization of Fly Ash Nanoparticles Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composite for Acoustic Applications

Division / Sponsors: 
Aerospace, Bioengineering, Applied Mechanics, Design Engineering Division, Advanced Energy Systems, Manufacturing Engineering Division, Noise Control and Acoustics, Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Prognosis (NDPD), Nuclear Engineering Division, Process Industries Division, Fluids Engineering, Heat Transfer, Materials, Microelectromechanical Systems, Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis, Computers & Information in Engineering


Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IMECE/IMECE2020/volume/84478

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