AUTOMOTIVE/R&D: Innovative Solution With Graphene Provides More Effective Noise Reduction in Trucks

PROMISING RESEARCH RESULTS from VOLVO GROUP, CHALMERS and SHT. Heavy Goods Vehicles in general create noise, which is one of the health hazards that need to be addressed, not least in urban environments. Therefore, noise suppression is a significant issue in the automotive industry. The sound absorbing materials that are used in the automotive industry consists primarily of polyurethane (PU) foams. However, low frequency noise performance, as well as mechanical and thermal properties are still problematic. In this project, we developed a thermally conductive graphene based porous material for noise damping in vehicles. The results are very promising, showing significant improvement compared to existing technology and the technology will further be developed and optimized.
Polyurethane foam is one of the leading materials in sound absorption in vehicles today. Unfortunately, the material is not only ideal for isolating noise and noise. It also insulates heat. In June 2022, Flavio Presezniak, project manager and senior exterior noise expert at the Volvo Group, therefore started a project together with Chalmers and SHT.
Few studies on the literature shows that the use of graphene on foam materials boosts the acoustic efficiency on the lower frequency, but when graphene flakes is applied on a PU foam, the low frequency efficiency can be combined with a high temperature resistant material, creating a new and innovative solution for noise control. The results of our materials are very promising, showing significant improvement on low frequency noise performance, as well as mechanical and thermal properties.
”When graphene flakes are applied to polyurethane foam, low-frequency efficiency increases through the new structure created. But the thermal properties of graphene are also integrated, improving heat transfer and heat resistance. It creates a new and innovative solution for noise control,” explains Flavio Presezniak.