Investigation of the acoustic behavior of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) frond fiber at various weights

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable materials in noise control applications has driven interest in natural fiber-based sound absorbers. This study investigates the potential of oil palm frond fiber (Elaeis guineensis) as an alternative to synthetic acoustic materials. The fibers were extracted, dried, and hot-pressed at 200°C into 100 mm × 10 mm cylindrical samples with varying weigh of 20–60 g. Pore morphology and composition were analyzed using SEM–EDX, while sound absorption coefficients (α) were measured using an impedance tube (ISO 10534-2) across 125–4000 Hz. SEM–EDX results revealed a highly porous structure dominated by carbon (57.5%) and oxygen (41%), confirming the organic nature of the fibers. The material exhibited strong absorption in the mid- to high-frequency range (500–4000 Hz), with α = 0.99 at 4000 Hz and a maximum NRC of 0.89 at 50 g. Optimal performance occurred at 40–50 g, with α > 0.95 between 500 and 2000 Hz, while low-frequency absorption (<250 Hz) remained limited (α = 0.1–0.6). Overall, oil palm frond fiber demonstrates significant potential as a low-cost, biodegradable, and sustainable acoustic material for medium- to high-frequency applications, such as interior acoustic panels and building insulation systems.