Asahi Kasei has developed a high-performance non-woven fabric that absorbs noise from automobile engines. Used as a sound-absorbing material attached to the car, the sound-absorbing effect is about twice that of materials such as felt currently in use. The use of the non-woven fabric has the advantages of reducing the thickness of the sound absorbing material and expanding the interior space of the vehicle. In Europe and other places, the trend of limiting vehicle noise such as engines is expanding, and the demand for this nonwoven fabric is expected to expand.
Asahi Kasei has developed a three-layer non-woven fabric made of polyester fiber, which is laminated with felt to be processed into a sound-absorbing material, which is attached to the engine such as the roof, floor and hood. Asahi Kasei has begun to supply samples to domestic and foreign automakers, and strives to be used in new-generation vehicles.
Non-woven fabric is a structure in which delicate fibers are entangled with each other, and has a sound absorption effect. Special fibers that are hardened after heating are processed into complex shapes by hot stamping. The traditional mainstream sound-absorbing materials are felt and foamed resin. To increase the sound-absorbing effect, the thickness must be increased. It is reported that using Asahi Kasei's non-woven fabric as the sound-absorbing material, the same sound-absorbing effect can be obtained with only one-half the thickness.
In the new-generation automobile market that responds to "CASE" (connected cars, autonomous driving, sharing, and electrification), in order to improve comfort, spacious interior space and quietness are increasingly valued. In addition to engine noise, it is necessary to suppress motor driving noise and wind noise during driving.
The Japanese government will also strengthen environmental restrictions. In the new noise regulations adopted in Europe in 2014, the noise level of ordinary passenger cars produced after 2024 must be reduced from 74 decibels in the past to 68 decibels. Japan and China may also introduce the same regulations, and it is expected that the demand for high-performance sound-absorbing materials will further expand.