Researchers from the University of Bath created a light material that can reduce aircraft engine noise and improve passenger comfort.

The new material is graphene oxide-polyvinyl alcohol aerogel. It weighs 2.1 kg/m³ , has meringue-like texture and is the lightest sound insulation manufactured to date. The team believes this material could be used to reduce aircraft engine noise by up to 16 dB, reducing 105 dB engine noise to the level of a hairdryer. Thanks to its light weight, the material would not increase the overall weight of an airplane.Professor Michele Meo with lightweight aerogel suspended in a honeycomb structure. Source: University of Bath

The material's low density was achieved using a liquid combination of graphene oxide and a polymer. This formed air bubbles and the material was freeze-casted to achieve a solid form.

Further optimization of the material is expected to improve heat dissipation to the benefit of fuel efficiency and safety.

The material could be applied in a variety of fields, including automotive and marine transport and building and construction. While not currently available, the team believes that their new material could be in use in 18 months.

A paper on the new material was published in Scientific Reports.