A Novel Soundproofing Material Inspired by Owl Feathers and Skin for Reducing Vehicle and Industrial Noise Pollution

A Novel Soundproofing Material Inspired by Owl Feathers and Skin for Reducing Vehicle and Industrial Noise Pollution

Researchers at Tiangong University in China have created a two-layered aerogel soundproofing material inspired by owl feathers and skin for noise reduction applications in vehicles and industries. Owls are well known for their silent flight, which is possible due to their feathers and skin that dampen the sound by absorbing low- and high-frequency flight noise. Owl-inspired coupled structure nanofiber-based aerogels (OSNAs) were created mimicking this phenomenon using the emulsion-templated freeze reconstruction technique. The feather layer absorbs the high-frequency sound, while the cavity layer dissipates the low-frequency sound through the effect of resonance. This novel material is believed to absorb 58% of the sound waves that hit it. Additionally, the OSNAs can reduce car engine noise by 8.9 decibels, which is an improved reduction compared to existing noise absorbers. Moreover, OSNAs display good mechanical stability and maintain structural integrity after 100 compression cycles. This novel soundproofing material shows a promising future for reducing vehicle and industrial noise pollution.