Enhancing the acoustic durability of sound-absorbing polyurethane foam via graphene oxide impregnation

This study investigates the effect of impregnation of graphene oxide (GO) on the acoustic durability of polyurethane (PU) foam. PU foam was impregnated with GO using a vacuum-assisted process. Subsequently, accelerated-aging tests were performed on pristine and GO-impregnated PU. Assessments of the transport parameters and absorption coefficients indicated that impregnation with GO enhances the acoustic durability of the PU foams. While pristine PU experienced notable changes in acoustic behavior owing to thermal aging, the GO-impregnated foam exhibited substantial inhibition of changes in transport parameters and absorption coefficients, especially with higher GO content. To investigate the mechanisms of these phenomena, the morphologies of the foams were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Pristine PU exhibited an increased opening ratio as a consequence of thermal aging, resulting from the destruction of cell membranes between the pores. Conversely, the GO-impregnated PU foam remained stable against these changes because the GO filled the open pores within the porous structure. Our results underscore the ability of GO impregnation to ameliorate the thermal aging-induced deterioration of the acoustic properties of PU foams. This study presents valuable insights for enhancing the acoustic durability of PU foams in applications where sound absorption is of paramount importance.