Innovative Composite Materials for Sound Absorption and Insulation (Second Volume)

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, we have observed a growing interest in sound absorption and sound insulation as a consequence of the ever-increasing awareness of the adverse effects that noise and lack of acoustic comfort may have on human health. Such an interest has consequently stimulated researchers (and industry) to propose new materials with improved characteristics. For sound absorbing materials, it is important to combine a sufficiently wide frequency range of action, with reduced mass and thickness, as well as with aesthetic requirements (due to the need to use such materials in spaces like classrooms, restaurants, train stations, etc.), not to mention durability and ease of maintenance. For sound insulating materials, aesthetic problems are typically not an issue, but other aspects, such as balancing low dynamic stiffness with load bearing properties, become important in order to ensure the best performance. In addition, whatever the purpose, such devices should be sustainable, have a low impact in terms of life cycle assessment, and possibly involve the use of recycled materials or natural products. All of the above questions clearly represent a challenge for researchers, but at the same time, they offer new opportunities to experiment with cutting-edge solutions, like those based on the use of composite materials, also including nanotechnologies, “green” vegetal and animal fibers, metal/ceramic/polymer matrixes, or even the more “advanced” acoustic metamaterials. At the same time, new or updated mathematical models and simulation tools will be needed to explain and predict the acoustic behavior of such composite materials.

This Special Issue provides an excellent opportunity for those who are studying and working within this continuously evolving field. Research articles, review articles and communications relating to theory, simulation, fabrication, properties characterization and applications of sound-absorbing and sound-insulating composite materials are all invited for this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Martellotta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• sound-absorbing materials
• sound-insulating materials
• composite materials
• sustainable and green materials