Effects of volume fraction and diameter of hollow spheres on acoustic properties of Metallic-Hollow-Sphere/Polyurethane (MHSP) acoustic composites

Abstract Metallic hollow spheres and polyurethane resin are excellent sound insulation and sound absorption materials. In this study, the surface modified 316L stainless steel hollow spheres were added into polyurethane by casting method. The influence of the volume fraction and diameter of the hollow spheres on the sound insulation and sound absorption performance of the Metallic-Hollow-Sphere/Polyurethane (MHSP) acoustic composites was investigated by impedance tube method and the relevant acoustic mechanism was discussed. When the volume fraction of hollow spheres is 45% and the diameter is 2.5 mm, composite has the best sound insulation performance. And when the volume fraction of hollow spheres is 60% and the diameter is 2.5 mm, composite has the best sound absorption performance. Due to the mass effect, damping effect, change of acoustic impedance and multiple interface of composites, sound waves will reflect, refract and scatter many times in the process of propagation, thus losing lots of sound energy to improve the sound insulation performance. The sound absorption mechanism of MHSP is that the friction, viscosity and reflection of sound waves in the pores of polyurethane, cavities of the hollow spheres and interfaces will cause the loss of sound energy and turn it into heat energy.