Shhhh. Hear that? Probably not, thanks to the use of nonwoven fabrics as sound absorbing substrates in your car as well as your home and office. Typical end use applications range from automotive, appliances and marine to office partitions and aviation. Designed to control noise, acoustic nonwovens are supplied in widths from about 20 to 80 inches and in varying thicknesses of 1/8 of an inch to six inches.
As noise control assumes greater priority, acoustical nonwoven materials are making their way into an increasing number of end use markets across North America. "Consumers spend more time in their automobiles and in their homes," noted David Schlaefer, business manager, 3M Acoustic Solutions. "In both locations, the need for quiet is being driven by the need for improved communication and comfort." According to an analysis from Frost & Sullivan, revents in this market reached $443 million in 2005 and will reach $580 million by 2012.

In terms of market trends, the good news for nonwoven fabrics  is that they offer advantages such as superior performance, lower weights and comparatively inexpensive pricing, all of which appeal to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier One suppliers. While shoddy is the most inexpensive of acoustic materials, fiberglass offers superior thermal resistance and acoustic insulation in certain niche applications. With foam prices on the rise, many Tier One suppliers are actively considering the use of alternatives such as nonwovens. Going forward, the impact of these trends will no doubt grow as raw material prices and recyclablility continue to be of paramount importance.

Adapted from Zend Non-wovens Co., LTD : www.non-wovens.com