Acoustic Characterization and Performance of Durian Husk Fibers as a Natural Sound-Absorbing Material

This study aims to investigate the potential of durian husk fiber (Durio zibethinus) as the base material for environmentally friendly acoustic panels. The samples were prepared as composites with a fixed composition ratio of durian husk fiber and epoxy resin at 2:1, and with varying thicknesses of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm. The sound absorption coefficient was measured using the impedance tube method based on ISO 10534-2 in the frequency range of 200–1600 Hz. The results showed that all samples demonstrated good acoustic performance. The 3 cm thick sample provided the best performance with the highest absorption coefficient value of 0.98 at a frequency of 1600 Hz. Increasing the thickness to 4 cm reduced the material's acoustic performance, indicating an optimal thickness limit for sound absorption. This study indicates that durian husk fiber has high potential as an alternative acoustic material that is effective and sustainable, especially for absorbing noise in mid to high frequency ranges.