Thermal and acoustic characterization of musa-coir-epoxy based novel hybrid composites for railway coach interior applications

The high-speed railway coaches are ergonomically designed moving entities that provides thermal and acoustic comfort to passengers. These comforts can be achieved by pasting sheets, foams, layers of the composite at roofs, sides, floor, carrying and supporting the ends of the coaches. The thermal and acoustic properties of composite materials change rapidly and can be controlled easily by mixing natural fibers with a matrix volumetrically. One of the composite materials is Musa-coir-epoxy (MCE) based hybrid composite, which meets the requirement of the railway coach application. In the present study, five different compositions of Musa and coir-based hybrid composites have been synthesized by embedding both the fibers into epoxy resin through the hand layup technique. Epoxy resin is employed as a base matrix for adhesives, whereas solidum hydroxide solution is used as liquid drain cleaners to increase the fiber adhesion. MCE composites are characterized for determining the properties of sound absorption coefficient (SAC) and thermal conductivity. This study helps to identify the most suitable MCE hybrid composite for railway coach interior application. The obtained results demonstrate that 30% coir, 10% Musa and 60% epoxy and 20% coir, 20% Musa and 60% epoxy based MCE composite provides the maximum acoustic and thermal comfort respectively.