Nonwoven AIRLITE

Airlite = excellent sound insulation of the future

Technology is continuously and rapidly advancing. Airlite™ is a product that not only addresses the drawbacks of existing solutions but also maximizes performance and meets environmental standards, capable of addressing the global climate crisis. Vehicles that utilize lightweight sound acoustic materials can reduce fuel consumption, while also increasing the driving range of Eco-friendly electric cars, thereby reducing energy usage. Additionally, when used as high-performance insulation materials in building exteriors, they can simultaneously reduce external noise and decrease energy consumption for indoor heating, ultimately leading to a reduction in fossil fuel usage. This connection can contribute to the expansion of an eco-friendly, low-carbon industry. Polyurethane foam (sponge material) and felt non-woven fabric have been widely used as sound acoustic and thermal insulation materials in the past and present.

Both share a similar concept where sound enters a space and gets trapped before being converted into other forms of energy and dissipating, while insulation involves the confinement of thermal energy within a space, without it being converted into other forms of energy, for an extended period. Sound energy, being a more dynamic form of energy compared to insulation, converts into thermal energy through friction within a space, resulting in the dissipation of that sound energy. Ultimately, the key direction for replacing traditional materials lies in how long they can effectively retain sound energy within a space and how complex the structure of that space can be created.

Based on this concept, Airlite™, with its complex structure of micro-sized fibers, has resolved all the issues associated with traditional materials, such as heavy weight and environmental pollution. The fundamental materials used in this product are Polypropylene (PP), a polymer widely used in hygiene products and food containers, and Polyester fibers, commonly found in everyday clothing. These two materials are combined to create a state-of-the-art composite nonwoven fabric. It utilizes ultrafine fiber nonwoven fabric, similar to that used in medical masks, to achieve a dense structure while incorporating special fibers to ensure appropriate spacing.

Based on these unique characteristics, Airlite is currently experiencing continuous expansion across various sound absorbing applications such as automotive insulations, electronic devices generating noise like dishwashers, thermal insulation materials for construction and agricultural use.

In recent times, we have further enhanced environmental friendliness with the release of ECO Airlite™ as part of our first-stage eco-friendly policy, and we have even obtained Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification. By collecting and processing PET bottles that we consume and discard, we no longer need to rely on fossil resources that are buried in the ground. Instead, we utilize them as recycled raw materials.

Contact: airlite@ttce.toray.cz