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Flame-Retardant-Functionalized Pineapple Leaf Fibers for Sustainable Acoustic Absorption
Sunisa Suwatthi1, Kritsana Janyajaraskul1, Jitlada Boonlertsamut1
1Advanced Composite and Nanotextiles Research Team, National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
Pineapple leaf fibers (PF) were treated with flame retardants (FR) and oil to improve fire safety for acoustic materials. Treated PF nonwovens offer excellent sound absorption and flame retardancy, making them suitable for sustainable building applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Sustainable Materials
- Acoustic Engineering
Background:
- Pineapple leaf fibers (PF) are a sustainable, cost-effective material for nonwoven production.
- High flammability of natural fibers like PF challenges their use in fire-regulated industries.
- Developing flame-retarded natural materials is crucial for meeting building safety standards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the flame retardancy of pineapple leaf fibers (PF) for acoustic applications.
- To investigate the impact of flame-retardant (FR) and oil treatments on PF fiber properties.
- To evaluate the acoustic absorption and fire safety of modified PF nonwovens.
Main Methods:
- Enzymatic and combined enzyme-chemical extraction of PF.
- Finishing PF with phosphorus-based flame retardants (FR) and oil additives via padding.
- Characterization using FTIR, SEM, TGA, and mechanical testing.
- Evaluation of flame retardancy (UL 94) and acoustic absorption (ASTM E1050-95).
Main Results:
- Oil treatment prior to FR application improved FR dispersion and flame-retardant performance.
- Noise reduction coefficients ranged from 0.55 to 0.60, indicating preserved acoustic properties.
- PF needle-punched nonwovens showed enhanced flame retardancy, acoustic absorption, and compression resilience.
Conclusions:
- Flame-retarded PF, especially when treated with oil before FR, demonstrates excellent fire safety and acoustic performance.
- The functional finishing did not compromise the inherent acoustic properties of the fibers.
- Modified PF nonwovens present a promising sustainable alternative for flame-retarded sound-absorbing materials in construction.
