Characterization of sheep wool panels for room acoustic applications

Given the good thermal and sound absorption properties, the lack of harmful effects on health, and the availability in large quantities, natural fibers are becoming a valid option for sound absorption panels in building applications. This paper investigates sheep wool fibers and panels. The absorption coefficient and the static flow resistivity for samples of different thickness are measured and discussed. Then, the possibility of using fabrics obtained with different kinds of woven wool as sound absorbing systems is investigated. For this scope, wool tapestries were mounted at a variable distance from the rigid back wall. The high absorption obtained in some frequency bands, depending on the back cavity depth, confirmed the possibility of using wool tapestries for ad-hoc customized acoustic interventions. Finally, this paper discusses the advantages of adopting sheep wool for room acoustic applications.