Automotive, More Comfort
The latest developments in the automotive market promise even greater comfort. TWE has therefore developed an acoustic nonwoven that not only absorbs noise, but also reduces the weight in the vehicle.
February 2015, © TWE
We all use it virtually every day – our car. Whether it's to get to work, do the shopping, or on holiday. Anyone who drives long distances on the motorway will know the problem: the engine is roaring, the wind is blasting you, and you can scarcely hear your passenger or the radio. Noise in the car comes from, e.g. tyre tread noise, the engine and the drivetrain. At high speeds, there are also aerodynamic noises which are generated by air vortexes around the bodywork and mounted fixtures.
Along with other developments, car manufacturers have been focusing increasing on driver comfort in recent years.
Weight saving defies excellent acoustic absorption
It is here that we come into the picture as a nonwovens manufacturer, with our Quiet WEB® material. In comparison with standard absorbers, use of our Quiet WEB can reduce weight by more than 55%. Quiet Web® is a very quiet, acoustically highly effective absorber material that is made from 100% polyester fibres that are thermally reinforced using Co-PET melting fibres.
The nonwoven is easily malleable and weldable, which makes it exceptionally flexible in use for our customers. The material is 100% recyclable, odour-free and does not permit bacterial growth, it complies with all legal requirements governing linings in vehicle interiors, and with additional specifications imposed by the particular car manufacturer.
The blend of fibres used contains a lot of fine, or microfibres. Using these exceptionally fine fibres creates a lot of air pockets in the material, thus achieving excellent sound absorption.
Additional materials expand the product properties
To further improve sound absorption, Quiet Web® can additionally be laminated with a special flow nonwoven.
The nonwoven can also be adapted to customer requirements to repel water and oil, and be rendered flame-retardant. This thus opens up special applications in the exterior of the vehicle and in the engine compartment.
Acoustic absorbers can be found in virtually every part of the car, including the door trim panels, pillar trims, the boot, the end walls, the instrument panel and the wheel arch, which means they are generally invisible to the end user.
Our absorbers are welded are adhered onto the relevant supports. Our customers then customise the nonwoven we have produced to the required size. Our nonwovens are thus punched, cut and coated with adhesive before being integrated into the vehicle.
