THE CHALLENGE OF NATURAL FIBRES FOR THE THERMAL AND ACOUSTIC INSULATION OF AIRCRAFT

The cabin of a civil aviation aircraft needs adequate sound and thermal insulation to guarantee passenger’s comfort. Among this scenario, the purpose of the following paper is to mark a path that leads to the use of natural fibers to ensure compliance with the requirements together with a mitigated environmental impact. The characteristic parameters to be examined for proper insulation are first described, including insulation and sound absorption characteristics, thermal insulation and the necessary flame resistance condition as well as their measurement methods and performances of actual technologies (i.e. glass fiber blankets ). Hemp and kenaf fibers are than introduced, together with their manufacturing technologies. Natural fiber’s blanket are successively introduced together with relative characterization in terms of acoustic, thermal and fire resistance properties. With specific reference to acoustic properties, also different stratification configuration have been tested and relative insulation and absorption properties compared. The study shows that natural fibers can provide acoustic responses that approach some solutions almost directly in some cases and with a minimum increment of thickness and density in others. Also from the thermal and flame resistance point of view, the response of the natural fiber is favorable if treated with fireproof spray or immersion treatments with nitrate or potassium alum.