Design of Acoustic Textiles: Environmental Challenges and Opportunities for Future Direction

Textiles have begun to find use in acoustical applications for the past few decades. In order to consolidate the position of textiles as noise control materials, their performance characteristics should be further enhanced to a level comparable to conventional acoustic materials, the most common ones of which are glass fibre mats and polyurethane foams. The same recent history has also witnessed substantial growth in public concern related to environmental effects of industrial progress. As much as this situation imposes a burden on textile producers, it also opens a new battlefield against acoustic materials, where textiles can prevail. Conventional acoustic materials, mineral wool or polyurethane foam among others are under line of fire due to their adverse effects on the ecosystem as well as on human health. This situation can offer business advantage to textile producers, provided that the damage inflicted on the environment throughout the whole life cycle of the textile product is minimized and the functional properties are improved. This can be realized by implementing a sound design stage based on functional and environmental requirements related to acoustic textiles.