NATURAL COCONUT COIR FIBER AND EGG CARTONS AS A POTENTIAL NOISE REDUCER

Nur Shafieza Azizan, Juliana Idrus, Zuraisah Dollah, Amalina Amirah Abu Bakar and Nor Azliza Akbar

Keywords: noise reducer, noise absorber, coconut coir fiber, egg carton, natural waste

Abstract: Noise disturbance was a major problem to improve good quality life and environment. A common method to reduce noise is to use porous sound absorbers made out of mineral wools or glass fibres. However, these materials pose health risks and are non-recyclable. Alternative materials were developed in order to replace the limitations of mineral fibres.  This project aimed to produce a noise reducer using a combination of coconut coir fiber and egg cartons. Natural fibres from coconut and paper from egg cartons owns high fibre porosity and they are biodegradable, cheaper, renewable, abundance, do not pose health risks and can be manufactured into different shapes easily. The sample was prepared by combining coconut coir and egg cartons with the portion of 50% each. Each materials were soaked and blended then mixed in the mould before compressed by using Uniaxial Compression Machine untill  the sample size was approximately 25 mm thick and then dried in a oven at 105⁰C for 12 hours. The sample was carried out in a testing box which will act as a room and can minimize the effect of background noise. The sample was placed between the source of sound and Sound Level Meter (SLM). The sound source released was 1KHz or 114dB. Based on the Equivalent Continuous Sound Level, Leq results obtained,  the sample of noise reducer shows a potential by reducing about 50% noise and indicate that the panel has an average noise reduction coefficient, (NRC) of 0.50, which qualifies it to be used as a sound absorbing material. Therefore, recycled materials, such as coconut coir fiber and egg cartons can be used and useful to mix up in order to obtain the desired performance.

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