Sound absorption properties evaluation and analysis of recycled tyre textile fibre waste

Abstract

Modern world is exposed to various environmental concerns which are closely related to human health condition. Since the automatization, world became vulnerable to the noise and the waste amounts generated. World Health Organization report states, due to noise, Western Europe each year loses approximately 1 million of healthy life years. However, noise is not the only concern. Tyres, since they were banned from the landfills, became enormous problem in a modern society. Approximately 2.6 million tonnes of tyres are generated each year in Europe, out of which 320 000 tonnes of Recycled Tyre Textile Fibre (RTTF) waste. Practically, rubber granules and metals extracted from tyre can be reused, however reusing RTTF is a challenge. The main focus is on the possibility of reuse of RTTF in buildings for acoustical comfort improvement. The determination of sound absorption is implemented by experimental research, based on ISO 10534 standard, involving five types of sound absorbing materials. It was concluded that RTTF has a great potential in use for sound absorption structures and can be an alternative substitute to non-renewable and non-recyclable materials.