a Currently, acoustic isolation is one of the problems raised with building construction in Spain. The publication of the Basic Document for the protection against noise of the Technical Building Code has increased the demand of comfort for citizens. This has created the need to seek new composite materials that meet the new required acoustical building codes. In this paper we report the results of the newly developed composites that are able to improve the acoustic isolation of airborne noise. These composites were prepared from polypropylene (PP) reinforced with mechanical pulp fibers from softwood (Pinus radiata). Mechanical and acoustical properties of the composites from mechanical pulp (MP) and polypropylene (PP) have been investigated and compared to fiberglass (FG) composites. MP composites had lower tensile properties compared with FG composites, although these properties can be improved by incorporation of a coupling agent. The results of acoustical properties of MP composites were reported and compared with the conventional composites based on fiberglass and gypsum plasterboards. Finally, we suggest the application of MP composites as a light-weight building material to reduce acoustic transmitions.

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Elsevier Reixach, R.; Rey Tormos, RMD.; Alba Fernández, J.; Arbat, G.; Espinach, FX.; Mutjé, P. (2015). Acoustic properties of agroforestry waste orange pruning fibers reinforced polypropylene composites as an alternative to laminated gypsum boards. Construction and Building Materials. 77:124-129. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.12 The present paper investigates the acoustic properties of natural fiber reinforced 19 composites. Fibers from orange tree pruning were obtained and subject to different 20 treatments in order to obtain mechanical, thermomechanical and chemi-21 2 thermomechanical pulps. These pulps were used as reinforcement for a 22 polypropylene matrix. The obtained composite materials were submitted to 23 acoustical tests in an impedance tubes device. The transmission losses obtained 24 against the fiber content were obtained and discussed. Latter it was researched the 25 influence of the fiber treatments on the soundproof characteristics. A numerical 26 method was used to preview the acoustic insulation of the materials against the 27 sound frequency. Finally the results were compared with that of the most usual 28 lightweight soundproof solutions. 29