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Review

Advanced Sound Insulating Materials: An Analysis of Material Types and Properties

by
Jacek Lukasz Wilk-Jakubowski
1,*,
Artur Kuchcinski
2,
Lukasz Pawlik
1 and
Grzegorz Wilk-Jakubowski
3,4
1
Department of Information Systems, Kielce University of Technology, 7 Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego Ave., 25-314 Kielce, Poland
2
Institute of Economic Sciences, Old Polish University of Applied Sciences, 49 Ponurego Piwnika Str., 25-666 Kielce, Poland
3
Institute of Internal Security, Old Polish University of Applied Sciences, 49 Ponurego Piwnika Str., 25-666 Kielce, Poland
4
Institute of Crisis Management and Computer Modelling, 28-100 Busko Zdrój, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 6156; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116156
Submission received: 7 May 2025 / Revised: 26 May 2025 / Accepted: 27 May 2025 / Published: 30 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noise Control: Challenges in Architectural Acoustics and Environmental Sound Pollution)
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Abstract

This review article presents a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in sound insulating materials, focusing on the characterization of material types and their properties from 2015 to 2024. It examined the application of various natural and synthetic materials, including fibrous, porous, composite, polymeric, and advanced materials, in architectural and environmental acoustics. A systematic search in the Scopus database identified relevant articles that were classified according to the material types and their inherent properties. The analysis covered key aspects such as thermal, mechanical, chemical, and physical characteristics, and their impact on sound insulation performance. Unlike previous studies that focused on classic materials or single aspects, this review used analytical and database tools to identify recent research trends. This review highlights the development of advanced and sustainable materials for noise reduction that address challenges in both building acoustics and environmental sound pollution.

1. Introduction

In the modern world, the problem of noise is becoming increasingly recognized. Increasing urbanization, industrial development, and increased road, rail, and air traffic are leading to an increase in ambient noise. In addition, the popularity of electronic devices means that people are constantly exposed to excessive sound levels. Exposure to noise, especially noise of a high intensity and long-term nature, can lead to serious health effects such as sleep disturbance, stress, impaired concentration, and, in extreme cases, even permanent hearing damage. For this reason, the issue of noise control and reduction is becoming crucial in terms of both public health and quality of life. Sound-insulating materials play a fundamental role in the fight against noise. They are used in a wide variety of applications—from architecture and construction to environmental engineering and automotive and interior design. Their main function is to absorb sound waves and prevent their reflections, thereby reducing noise levels and improving the acoustic environment.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in modern sound-absorbing materials that are characterized not only by high acoustic performance, but also by additional functional qualities. Increasingly, researchers are looking for solutions that combine sound absorption properties with lightness, resistance to environmental factors, ease of processing, and sustainability of environmental impact. In this context, the importance of eco-friendly, biodegradable and recyclable materials is growing, which can offer an alternative to traditional solutions based on polyurethane foams or glass fibers.
Another important aspect of research on sound-absorbing materials is their internal structure, porosity, thickness, and surface shape. These features have a direct impact on the absorption efficiency of acoustic waves. Therefore, it is important to conduct interdisciplinary research that combines knowledge of acoustics, materials, chemical engineering, and industrial design.
The aim of this literature review was to describe the current state of research on the subject of sound insulating materials, with particular emphasis on their acoustic, structural, and performance properties. The latest research trends and developments were also identified.
Against the background of the available publications listed in the SCOPUS database, this literature review adds significant value not only by collating research results on the acoustic properties of sound-absorbing materials, but also by combining the analysis of their structural, environmental and functional characteristics, taking into account current technological and ecological trends. In contrast to previous studies, which mainly focused on classic materials or single aspects (e.g., sound absorption coefficient), this review performed a cross-sectional analysis using analytical and database tools to identify patterns and developments in research from recent years.
Another novelty of the review is the combination of a quantitative approach (publication statistics or affiliation trends) with a qualitative analysis in the form of a description of innovative materials, such as biocomposites, recycled materials, and those with optimized microstructures. In this way, this article addresses an important gap in the literature—the lack of an integrated, systematic study that simultaneously analyzes the development of material technologies and research methods and their environmental and application considerations.
To achieve these objectives, 150 articles included in the SCOPUS database and published between 2015 and 2024 were identified. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out based on the following research categories: specific publication type, material types, material properties, research methodology, and affiliation. The results of the research are presented in tables, graphs, and descriptive form. Data processing and analysis were based on PostgreSQL 16.2, SQL query, and Python 3.12.2.
This literature review also has a practical dimension, as the materials analyzed are used in many sectors. In the construction industry, they are used for acoustic insulation of walls, ceilings, and floors, resulting in improved living comfort in residential and commercial spaces. In the automotive industry, the drive to reduce vehicle weight while maintaining high sound insulation creates a demand for lightweight and durable sound-absorbing materials. The same is true in rail and air transport—these materials are key to increasing passenger comfort. In addition, ecological aspects are becoming increasingly important—the use of biodegradable or recycled materials is part of the sustainability policy.
As a result of the analyses, it was found that there has been a significant increase in interest in the issue of sound insulating materials in recent years. For example, there has been a marked increase in interest in fiber materials, an increase in the use of the experimental method, and an increase in the percentage of scientific articles with Chinese and Indian author affiliations. A detailed discussion of the trends is presented in the discussion and conclusions.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Data Selection

In order to select articles from the Scopus database on the topic of sound insulating materials, the approach used, which will be described further on, included elements of systems analysis. The selection of relevant categories (domains) was preceded by an extensive search by combining some specific search terms with the title, abstract, and keywords of the articles according to the following scheme:
TITLE-ABS-KEY(“Sound Insulating Materials”) AND PUBYEAR > 2014 AND PUBYEAR < 2025 AND (LIMIT-TO (PUBSTAGE,”final”))
In the data retrieval stage, the focus was primarily on insulating materials, as well as their components, structures, or composite materials used in insulation. This included natural and fibrous materials, porous and lightweight materials, composite materials, polymers, and plastics, as well as specialized materials used, among others, in nanotechnology. The appropriate selection of keywords allowed for further narrowing of the search results. In addition to them, additional criteria were applied, including exclusion criteria that filtered out articles from distant scientific fields such as medical, veterinary, artistic sciences, etc. The language was limited to English due to its international character.
The data were exported to a Comma-Separated Values (CSV) file and additionally to a text file. The results can therefore be viewed in terms of the information they contain. The file contains the following columns: ‘Authors’, ‘Author full names’, ‘Author(s) ID’, ‘Title’, ‘Year’, ‘Source title’, ‘Cited by’, ‘DOI’, ‘Link’, “Abstract”, ‘Author Keywords’, ‘Index Keywords’, ‘Document Type’, ‘Publication Stage’, ‘Open Access’. The resulting data enabled one to identify publications and provided the basis for pre-contextual analysis of the documents in order to identify the categories of the division and assign relevant articles to them. After analyzing the publications, 5 research categories were identified: specific type of document (type of publication), type of material, characteristics of material, affiliation, and research methodology. Data processing and analysis were based on PostgreSQL, SQL queries, Python, and data analysis by researchers. The entire data selection process is shown in Figure 1.

2.2. Data Analysis

The study involved a search of the SCOPUS database to identify scientific publications on sound-absorbing materials. In the first stage, 150 articles were obtained that met the following criteria: years of publication: 2015–2024, language of publication: English, stage of publication: final, field: materials science, presence of keywords: “Natural Fiber”, “Wool”, “Nanofibers”, “Cotton”, “Aerogels”, “Porous Materials”, “Foams”, “Composites”, “Hybrid Composites”, “Fiber Reinforced Plastics”, “Composite Materials”, “Polyurethanes”, “Polysulfides”, “Pyridine”, “Silica”, “Graphene”. Information about the types of materials identified is presented in Figure 2.
A second selection was then carried out, limiting the results to articles containing at least one keyword related to material properties (such as mechanical, chemical, physical, or thermal properties). After reviewing the content and abstracts, unrelated articles were removed, leaving 76 publications for further analysis.
Publications were classified according to the following:
  • Type of materials (composites, fibrous, porous, polymers, or nanomaterials),
  • Material properties investigated (chemical, mechanical, physical, or thermal),
  • Country of affiliation of the authors (based on SCOPUS data)—if 2 authors are from China and 1 is from India, then both locations will appear, i.e., China, India,
  • Type of document (article, conference paper, or review article),
  • Research methodology—this classification was conducted based on the analysis of abstracts and the full content of the articles. Each publication was read individually and evaluated to assign it to one of three methodological categories, according to the following rules:
    a.
    Experiment—articles were classified into this category if they described empirical studies conducted by the authors, such as their own measurements of material properties.
    b.
    Literature analysis—this category included publications based on the analysis of existing literature, research reviews, or previously published studies.
    c.
    Conceptual—this group included articles in which the authors developed models (e.g., using linear regression) or presented new theoretical concepts.
Figure 3 shows the number of scientific publications identified on different types of sound-absorbing materials, broken down by the research methodology used. The largest number of publications relates to composites (76), among which experimental research dominates (75). For fiber materials, 28 papers have been published, mainly of an experimental nature (27). Polymers were analyzed in 41 publications, 40 of which were experimental and 25 of which included literature analysis. The fewest publications were on porous materials (6) and nanomaterials (22), which were also dominated by experimental studies. The data clearly show a clear predominance of the experimental approach for all types of materials.
Based on the criteria indicated, the publications analyzed were divided and cross-referenced. However, it should be emphasized that a single publication may have involved several research categories. Therefore, the grouping of publications according to the classification criteria is not mutually exclusive. In this article, both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the selected publications was applied. The quantitative analysis relies on frequency measures and cross-tabulation, while the qualitative analysis is based on content analysis of the publications by research category. This analysis was based on the type of material presented in Section 3.

3. Results

Five groups of publications were identified in this literature review by type of material (Table 1), namely, composites (28 articles), fibrous (41 articles), porous (22 articles), polymers (6 articles), and nanomaterials (11 articles).
In the first group of identified publications, the authors developed hybrid fiber composites from banana and glass [1], sugarcane and coconut [2], pigeon pea stalks and cotton [3], and jute and coconut [4,5]; hybrid composites reinforced with sisal fibers [6], palm fibers reinforced with epoxy resin [7], and reinforced composites in which polyester resin is the matrix [8]; biocomposites based on non-woven rice straw and polylactic acid [9]; a composite made from pea stalks and cotton waste [10]; an acoustic–thermal composite made from sugarcane bagasse and bamboo charcoal fibers [11]; a biocomposite made from polymers reinforced with banana fibers [12]; co-fiber composites combining natural fibers from drought-tolerant plants [13]; and additive manufacturing of acoustic panels made from polylactic acid reinforced with a wood fiber composite [14].
This characterized group of articles also analyzed the effect of chemical modification of bamboo fibers on acoustic properties [15]; the acoustic and mechanical properties of hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) panels made of natural fibers [16] and those of hybrid biocomposites made of jute fabric and aloe mats [17]; the effect of sample thickness and fiber/resin ratio on the acoustic properties of biocomposites [18]; the properties of polymer composites reinforced with Cissus quadrangularis fibers (CQSF) and epoxy polymers, with the addition of nanosilica [19]; the manufacture of polypropylene hybrid composites [20]; and the preparation of aluminum fiber-reinforced composite foams [21]. Polymer composites with 316 L stainless steel hollow spheres produced by casting [22] and the effect of different syntactic hollow spheres on the acoustic and mechanical properties of polyurethane composites were also investigated [23]. In two articles, the researchers highlighted the environmental and ecological aspects involved in the use of rubber granules from tires [24] and the use of recycled tires and textiles in epoxy composites [25].
Three articles had a review character and dealt with the status of basalt fiber (BF) research in China [26], the growing interest in the use of natural fibers as a sustainable alternative to traditional sound-absorbing materials in transport and construction [27], and the use of rice husk-filled polymer composites, particularly in the aerospace and marine industries [28].
Forty-one publications were assigned to the second group. The research carried out concerned the use of woolen fabrics [29,30,31,32]; woolen needled and stitched nonwovens [33]; nonwovens made from cotton, polyester and bi-component fibers [34]; sound absorption of nonwovens based on cotton fiber wool and polyester fiber [35]; the synthesis of composites made from pea stalks and cotton fibers in different proportions [10]; nonwoven mats made from recycled cotton and polyester [36]; sugarcane and coconut fibers with a polyester matrix [2]; materials made from natural fibers [16,27,37,38,39]; polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers [19]; the production of polylactic acid acoustic panels reinforced with wood fibers [14]; and the acoustic properties of natural cellulose materials [40] and co-fiber composites combining natural fibers from drought-tolerant plants [13]. Researchers have also paid attention to environmental issues through the use of coffee husk waste and cotton spinning industry waste [41], cotton waste and pigeon pea stalks [3], peanut shells as agricultural waste [42], waste wool fibers [43], and eco-friendly natural fiber composites [11].
In addition, researchers have analyzed the effect of chemical treatments, such as sodium hydroxide and potassium permanganate, on bamboo fibers [15]; the use of polymer biocomposites reinforced with common banana fibers [12]; the effect of sample thickness and fiber/epoxy resin ratio on the acoustic properties of jute and loofah fiber-reinforced biocomposites [18]; the use of microperforated panels in combination with a porous layer [44]; the properties of a liquid metal (LM) that has been uniformly dispersed in carboxymethyl cellulose (CCNF) nanofibers to produce a balanced CCNF/LM aerogel by lyophilization [45]; the sound absorption properties of biduri fiber [46] and epoxy resin reinforced jute and coir fiber composites [5]; the use of flax composites with epoxy resin [47]; the effects of non-woven fabric made from 100% kapok [48]; and the properties of epoxy composite with cylindrical loofa fibers [49].
The results of research works include the development of a multilayer microperforated polyvinyl butyral nanofiber membrane [50], a fuzzy logic-based model [1], a new nanofiber membrane [51], a new method for the creation of triple-array nanofibrous aerogels [52], cellulose-based fibers from the stem of the plant Alcea rosea L. (ARL) [53], an innovative microwave-absorbing aramid honeycomb (MAAH) [54], and a design strategy for nanofibrous aerogels [55].
The third type of sound-insulating materials is porous materials. Studies have shown that aerogels reduce thermal conductivity and increase sound absorption [56], effectively absorb sound in the frequency range of 2000–6300 Hz [57], exhibit moisture resistance, and have the ability to recover their shape after large deformations [55]. Researchers also revealed that carboxymethyl cellulose aerogels (CCSA), prepared by targeted freezing, have excellent acoustic, thermal, and mechanical properties [58], as do polyimide–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PI-PVP) aerogels with a hierarchical cell structure [59]. The importance of modifying graphene oxide–polyvinyl alcohol aerogels with a plasticizer (glycerol) and a cross-linking agent (glutaraldehyde) is also highlighted, leading to materials with high flexibility, low thermal conductivity, and good sound absorption [60].
In addition, research has focused on improving sound absorption in epoxy fiberglass fabric composites [61], composite aluminum foams [46], and composites made from cotton waste and pea stalks [10]; developing methods of producing lightweight cement composites [62], porous rubber foam composite sound absorbing materials [63], and composite double-chamber sound absorbing structures [64]. In addition, the reviewed articles developed new composite sandwich panels made with flexible polyurethane foam [65], a CCNF/LM aerogel [45], a nanofiber membrane of a composite aerogel [51], and methods for synthesizing composite foams [66], linear and cross-linked polyimide aerogels [67], porous cellulose-based materials with sound-absorbing properties [68], and flexible, superelastic three-dimensional nanofibrous aerogels [52]. The ecological aspects of the materials used has also been analyzed, indicating that natural waste materials such as sheep’s wool and sugar cane core have good acoustic properties [44], as do co-fibrous composites combining natural fibers [13]. Other researchers focused on the development of an environmentally friendly, renewable sound absorbing material, the composite aerogel [69].
The articles on polymer properties were the least numerous group. They presented their findings on the acoustic properties of polymer matrix composites (melamine and polyurethane) combined with 316 L stainless steel hollow spheres [22], sandwich panels with flexible polyurethane (PU) foam and nylon-glass grid needle-punched composite fabric (NPUN-G) [65], tungic acid-based biocidal polyurethane foam (TOPUF) [70], and rigid, perforated polyurethane foam panels [71]. The effect of water hyacinth fiber size on the properties of a polyurethane sound-absorbing foam made from recycled palm oil was evaluated [72] and the addition of hollow spheres to polyurethane composites was shown to improve their acoustic properties [23].
The last group consisted of articles related to nanomaterials. The research results presented concern innovative methods for modifying wool fabrics [29], an analysis of the use of porous silica ceramics with good sound absorption properties [73], the development of a porous ceramic composite of reduced graphene oxide and polyvinyl alcohol [60,74], and the use of silica aerogel in noise attenuation [51,56,61]. One study evaluated the properties of polymer composites reinforced with Cissus quadrangularis stem fiber (CQSF) and nanosilica [19] and another investigated the effect of rubber waste powder (RP), graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS)—material added to concrete to improve its properties—on the acoustic and mechanical properties of rubber concrete [75]. Other studies investigated the properties of jute and coconut fiber composites, a feature of which is the ability to absorb sound [5], as well as a method to incorporate a large fraction of graphene in a styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) matrix, resulting in nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties [76].
Table 1 provides a summary of the publications analyzed covering the years divided into two groups, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, and the total number of publications in the period. To analyze the statistical correlation between the distribution of different categories and the time periods, a chi-square independence test was applied.
In the review of publications on sound-insulating materials presented in Table 1, there is a noticeable increase in the number of publications in the last decade. In the period 2015–2019, 12 papers were published, while in the period 2020–2024, the number increased to 64, indicating a growing interest in this topic in the scientific community.
When analyzing the types of materials, the most common materials were fibrous materials (53.95%) and composite materials (36.84%). Porous materials (28.95%) and nanomaterials (14.47%), which can offer new properties and applications in the field of sound absorption, also had a significant share. Polymers, despite their potential, appeared to a much lower extent (7.89%).
In terms of the properties analyzed, the publications mainly focused on physical (46.05%), thermal (38.16%), and mechanical (35.53%) properties. Chemical properties were analyzed much less frequently (13.16%).
In the analysis of the research methods used, the dominance of the experimental approach was noted, which accounted for 93.42% of all publications included in the compilation. It must be emphasized that the experimental method allows for a high degree of control over the variables and ensures a high reproducibility of the results. However, it has certain limitations. First of all, laboratory conditions often differ significantly from actual sound absorption use conditions, which can affect the practical validity of the results obtained. Furthermore, experiments usually focus on a limited number of parameters, which can lead to simplifications in the interpretation of complex acoustic phenomena.
On the contrary, methods involving literature analysis (30.26%) and conceptual articles (27.63%), although less frequently represented, may offer, for example, a broader theoretical perspective. Their lower presence in the analyzed publications may indicate a tendency of the research community to favor measurable results at the expense of reflecting on theoretical considerations.
The results of the chi-square tests indicate that the differences between the two time periods (2015–2019 and 2020–2024) in each of the categories analyzed (document type, material type, properties, methodology) are not statistically significant. The smallest p-value obtained was 0.36 (χ2 = 2.04, df = 2), which exceeds the significance level of 0.05. Therefore, there is no basis for rejecting the null hypothesis that the distribution of each category is independent of the time period. Although the number of publications increased significantly in the period 2020–2024, the structure of their characteristics remained relatively stable.
Figure 4 shows the number of publications by category of document. The data show that the dominant form of publication was articles in scientific journals, which represented up to 84.21% of all papers. Less numerous were summaries of conference presentations (13.16%) and other types of documents (2.63%).
Table 2 presents an analysis of the number of publications on sound absorbing materials by country for the period 2015–2024. The data have been divided into two periods, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, and summarized for the entire study period. The results of the chi-square test are also included in the table. The analysis showed that Asian countries have the highest research activity in this area. The largest number of publications came from China (36.84%) and India (27.63%). A significant number of papers were also published in Thailand (13.16%), which has become an active research center, especially in recent years. Between 2020 and 2024, Turkey, Ethiopia, and Malaysia also joined the ranks of countries involved in research on sound-absorbing materials, each contributing five or six publications. It is also worth noting the participation of other countries (19.74%), which confirms the global nature of the research being conducted.
To assess whether the change in the distribution of publications by country between the periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 was statistically significant, a chi-square independence test was performed. The null hypothesis was that the proportion of publications from each country is independent of the time period. The alternative hypothesis was that the proportion of publications from at least one country differs significantly between the two time periods. The value of the chi-square test for the distribution of publications by country presented in Table 2 is χ2 = 8.16 with six degrees of freedom, and the corresponding p-value is 0.23. As the p-value (0.23) is greater than the typical significance level (0.05), we cannot reject the null hypothesis of independence. This means that although the number of publications has increased overall, the observed changes in the share of each country in the total number of publications are not statistically significant at the 0.05 significance level. In other words, the relative contribution of each country to the research output in this field has remained statistically similar across the two time periods.
Figure 5 presents the number of scientific publications analyzed on sound absorbing materials published between 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 by country. The breakdown shows the clear dominance of two Asian countries—China and India—which together account for more than 60% of all analyzed publications. China takes first place with a total of 28 articles, representing 36.84% of all papers. The steady development of research is evident here—this country was already active in research in the first period (2015–2019) and continued with even greater intensity after 2020. In the case of China, the high number of publications is in line with the general trend of intensifying R&D activities, supported by government strategies such as ‘Made in China 2025’ (which aims to transform China into a global industry leader in high-tech sectors), and policies that support innovation in sustainable development, urbanization, and environmental protection.
India ranks second with 21 publications (27.63%), the vast majority of which were produced between 2020 and 2024. This rapid increase is indicative of the rapidly growing participation of researchers from this country in acoustic issues and the development of sound-absorbing materials. On the other hand, India’s rapid growth in acoustic materials can be linked to increasing infrastructure and industrialization requirements, which are generating demand for effective soundproofing technologies in construction, transport, and industry. Furthermore, India, like China, is increasing its investment in R&D, resulting in an increase in publications.
Third is Thailand, with 10 articles (13.16%) published in this country during the period analyzed. Interestingly, all publications are from 2020–2024, indicating new and rapidly growing research activity in this country. Next on the chart are Turkey (six publications), Ethiopia (five), and Malaysia (five). All of these countries only showed their activity in the second half of the analyzed period. Their presence on the chart is indicative of the expansion of sound absorbing material research into new regions of the world, including developing countries. The last category in Figure 5 is the collective group labeled “Other”, which includes 15 publications (19.74%). It consists of countries that had single contributions on the topic and were not included individually. Despite the smaller share, this group confirms the global reach of research and the growing interest in acoustic issues worldwide. The limited representation of European and American countries should be noted. However, their lack of presence among the dominant countries (China, India) does not imply a lack of significant contributions. For example, Germany has for years played a leading role in materials innovation, including acoustic composites and technologies based on natural materials. Similarly, the United States has been strongly active in patenting and industrial research, but this is not reflected in the number of scientific publications analyzed in this compilation. The contribution of these countries may be more evident, for example, in research and development projects.
Table 3 shows an analysis of publications on different types of sound-absorbing materials (composite, fiber, polymer, porous, and nanomaterials) in relation to the properties studied and the research methodology used. A total of 76 papers were published in the analyzed period, most on fibrous materials (41 publications) and composite materials (28 publications), much less on porous materials (22 publications), nanomaterials (11 publications), and polymers (6 publications). Research was most often focused on physical (35 publications) and thermal (29) properties, and, to a lesser extent, on mechanical (27) and chemical (10) properties. The physical properties of fiber and composite materials were particularly frequently analyzed. The vast majority of studies were carried out experimentally (71 publications), while literature analyses (23) and conceptual studies (21) were much less frequent. The largest number of experimental studies focused on fiber and composite materials.
The chi-square test values for the associations between material types and properties (χ2 = 13.63; p = 0.33) and the research methodology (χ2 = 13.14; p = 0.11) are presented in Table 3, which indicates that there were no statistically significant relationships between material types and the choice of methodology (p > 0.05), but there are some trends worth noting. Based on the data presented in Table 3, clear trends can be observed in the choice of research methodology depending on the type of material analyzed. Composites are characterized by a strong predominance of experimental research—as many as 25 out of 28 publications in this category are based on experimentation, with literature analysis and conceptual approaches being used to a much lesser extent. Fiber materials are also preferred for experimental research (38 of 41), but there is also a noticeable presence of conceptual methodology (12 publications), indicating a more diverse research approach in this group. In the case of polymers, all publications (six) are purely experimental, indicating a clear choice of this research method in the context of this material. Porous materials, on the other hand, are distinguished by a relatively high proportion of conceptual approaches—up to 11 of 22 publications—with a significant proportion of experiments (21), which may indicate the search for a new theoretical research framework for this category of materials. With regard to nanomaterials, the experimental methodology dominates (11 out of 11), but conceptual (4) and review papers (2) also appear, indicating that complementary approaches are being developed. In summary, experimental methodology is by far the most commonly used in all types of materials, especially polymers and composites. However, in the case of fibrous and porous materials, a greater diversity of research approaches can be observed, with a clear contribution of conceptual methods and literature analysis. This suggests that the choice of methodology may be partly dependent on the characteristics of the material in question and the extent to which it is known in the scientific literature.
Figure 6 shows the number of publications per type of sound-absorbing material. The dominance of fibrous and composite materials is evident, together accounting for the majority of all studied. Among the material properties, the physical and thermal characteristics were investigated most frequently, especially with respect to fibrous materials. In turn, the research methodology shows a clear advantage of experimental approaches over literature and conceptual analyses, regardless of the material type. The lack of statistically significant differences between categories suggests that the preference for the properties and methods studied was not dependent on the material type.

4. Discussion

Analysis of scientific publications included in the SCOPUS databases from 2015–2024 shows that research on sound-absorbing materials is of growing interest in the scientific community. The increase in the number of publications in recent years, as well as the focus on experimental research, indicates the practical importance of the research work carried out.
The most commonly analyzed materials, such as fiber and composite materials, find applications in a wide range of fields—from construction and industry to interior design and noise reduction technologies in transport. At the same time, the increasing interest in nanomaterials may indicate the development of innovative solutions in material acoustics. The noticeable focus on the physical and thermal properties of materials (particularly in the context of material properties such as porosity or density) suggests that sound absorption efficiency is a key criterion for assessing their suitability. In the future, we can expect to see a further increase in research, especially those integrating modern materials and interdisciplinary approaches, which may translate into even more effective and environmentally friendly solutions (e.g., recyclability and biodegradability) for noise control.
The largest number of publications related to fibrous materials (41), followed by composites (28) and then porous materials (22). The lowest number of publications were in the categories of nanomaterials (11) and polymers (6). This shows the predominance of research into fibrous and composite materials in the group of papers analyzed.
The most studied material properties were physical (35 publications), mechanical (27) and thermal (29), while chemical properties were the least studied (10). This suggests a strong research interest in the structural and functional aspects of materials, with less emphasis on their chemical composition.
The experiment was the predominant method of research (71 publications), demonstrating the practical and applied nature of the papers analyzed. Significantly fewer papers were based on literature analysis (23) and conceptual approaches (21), confirming the predominance of empirical material research.
For the material properties, a statistical value of χ2 = 13.63 with 12 degrees of freedom was obtained, giving p = 0.33. For the test methodologies, a value of χ2 = 13.14 with eight degrees of freedom was obtained, giving p = 0.11. In both cases, p > 0.05, which means that there were no statistically significant differences in the distributions between the different types of materials and the properties tested and the test methods used. This indicates a relatively equal interest in the different properties and methods for the different materials.
An analysis of the geographical distribution of scientific publications on sound-insulating materials published between 2015 and 2024 shows not only an increase in the overall number of studies, but also a changing authorship structure. The dominance of China and India shows that it is the Asian countries that are currently setting the tone for research in this field. At the same time, the emergence of new research centers such as Thailand, Ethiopia, and Malaysia signals a gradual diversification and internationalization of acoustic research. This is particularly important because research is conducted throughout the world in search of innovative techniques used in fire protection, one of which is the acoustic technique [77,78,79]. In practice, extinguishing flames is an aspect of fire management [80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88], along with its detection [89,90,91]. In the long term, the acoustic technique may be applied to extinguish flames originating from materials that are difficult to suppress using currently known methods [92,93,94,95]. The increase in publications in developing countries may also indicate the growing importance of local noise problems and the need to adapt innovative solutions to regional conditions.

5. Conclusions

The purpose of this article was to analyze the current state of research and to identify trends and potential research gaps. Analysis of the publications assigned to the five types of materials made it possible, in summary, to identify the main gaps, trends, and recommendations for future research areas:
  • Composites—research included the effect of selected parameters (e.g., type of fiber [1,2,3,4,5,6] or resin addition [7,8]), but was conducted under different test conditions. This makes it difficult to compare the results. Thus, it is worth conducting comparative studies with standardized measurement procedures for acoustic properties, e.g., according to ISO 11654 (for the classification of sound-absorbing materials) [96]. The second area worth pointing out is the insufficient amount of research in the context of environmental specs. Only a few publications have considered recycled materials (e.g., tire granulate [24], recycled textiles [25]), and there is a lack of a broader environmental assessment of composite materials. This is particularly important when promoting biocomposites as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to other materials.
  • Fibrous—the category to which the most publications were assigned. The studies carried out were on different types of fibers (cotton [10,33,34,36], wool [29,30,31,32], jute [18], kapok [48], bamboo [15], luffa [18,49], biduri [46], and banana [12]). However, a comparative analysis conducted under the same conditions is lacking, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of different types of fibers in terms of sound absorption. As with other materials, research has focused mainly on properties under laboratory conditions. Missing, for example, are analyses of the effects of atmospheric conditions, resistance to mechanical wear, or the behavior of a given material over a long period of use. On the basis of the analysis, it was also diagnosed that some of the work focused on modern concepts, but little of it translates into concrete prototypes of products ready to be implemented in practice.
  • Porous—the analyzed publications presented, among other things, results on specific material properties (e.g., [55,56,57,58]). However, there is a lack of a consistent set of standards and test methods, which makes direct comparisons and utilization in practical applications difficult. Despite the innovation and high performance of some materials (e.g., aerogels with a hierarchical cell structure [59]), there is a lack of analyses of economic viability or the availability of raw materials and energy intensity of production processes.
  • Polymers—this group of materials was the least represented among the publications analyzed. Previous research has focused mainly on the acoustic properties of various forms of polyurethane foam [22,72] and its modifications [23,65,70,71]. In-depth analyses of the chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of these materials, especially in the context of their durability or resistance, are lacking. It is worth extending the research to biodegradable polymers, especially in the context of sustainable development and environmental protection. In the context of future research, it is proposed, among other things, to compare biodegradable polymers with traditional polymers in terms of environmental impact, energy intensity, and CO₂ emissions. Further research may also aim to analyze increasing their performance without increasing costs by designing cellular and porous structures (e.g., PLA or PHA foams) for improved sound attenuation. In addition, research into the effects of various types of additives, such as natural fibers, on the acoustic properties of polymer composites is a promising direction of development.
  • Nanomaterials—in the reviewed publications, nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties [76], hardness [19], and elasticity [60], as well as compressive, flexural, and tensile strength [75], were analyzed. Most of the research was conducted under laboratory conditions [5,19,75]. There is a lack of research conducted under field or application conditions to verify the effectiveness of nanomaterials in, for example, industrial equipment or transportation infrastructure.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, G.W.-J., A.K. and J.L.W.-J.; methodology, G.W.-J., A.K. and J.L.W.-J.; software, L.P.; validation, L.P.; formal analysis, J.L.W.-J.; investigation, L.P.; resources, L.P.; data curation, L.P.; writing—original draft preparation, J.L.W.-J. and L.P.; final writing—review and editing, A.K., G.W.-J. and J.L.W.-J.; visualization, L.P.; supervision, J.L.W.-J., G.W.-J., L.P. and A.K.; project administration, J.L.W.-J. and G.W.-J.; funding acquisition, G.W.-J. and J.L.W.-J. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Selection process for publications included in the review.
Figure 1. Selection process for publications included in the review.
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Figure 2. Identified material types and properties.
Figure 2. Identified material types and properties.
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Figure 3. Number of publications classified by research methodology.
Figure 3. Number of publications classified by research methodology.
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Figure 4. Number of publications in 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 by document type category.
Figure 4. Number of publications in 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 by document type category.
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Figure 5. Number of publications in 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 by country.
Figure 5. Number of publications in 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 by country.
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Figure 6. Number of publications in 2025–2024 of material properties.
Figure 6. Number of publications in 2025–2024 of material properties.
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Table 1. Publications by year in all categories.
Table 1. Publications by year in all categories.
Name2015–20192020–2024All YearsShare [%]Chi-Square
Total126476100.0χ2
Document type
Conference paper371013.16χ2 = 2.04
(df = 2, p = 0.36)
Journal article9556484.21
Other0222.63
Material type
Composites3252836.84χ2 = 1.77
(df = 4, p = 0.78)
Fibrous6354153.95
Polymers1567.89
Porous5172228.95
Nanomaterials1101114.47
Material properties
Chemical371013.16χ2 = 1.68
(df = 3, p = 0.64)
Mechanical4232735.53
Physical5303546.05
Thermal4252938.16
Research methodology
Experiment12597193.42χ2 = 0.31
(df = 2, p = 0.86)
Literature analysis3202330.26
Conceptual4172127.63
Table 2. Publications by year and country.
Table 2. Publications by year and country.
Country2015–20192020–2024All YearsShare [%]Chi-Square
All countries126476100.0χ2 = 8.16
(df = 6, p = 0.23)
China6222836.84
India2192127.63
Thailand0101013.16
Turkey0667.89
Ethiopia0556.58
Malaysia0556.58
Other4111519.74
Table 3. Publications by material type in other categories.
Table 3. Publications by material type in other categories.
NameCompositesFibrousPolymersPorousNanomaterialsTotalChi-square
Total28416221176χ2
Material properties
Chemical2504210χ2 = 13.63
(df = 12, p = 0.33)
Mechanical151055427
Physical1219410535
Thermal1015012429
Research methodology
Experiment25386211171χ2 = 13.14
(df = 8, p = 0.11)
Literature analysis121603223
Conceptual512011421
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Wilk-Jakubowski, J.L.; Kuchcinski, A.; Pawlik, L.; Wilk-Jakubowski, G. Advanced Sound Insulating Materials: An Analysis of Material Types and Properties. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 6156. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116156

AMA Style

Wilk-Jakubowski JL, Kuchcinski A, Pawlik L, Wilk-Jakubowski G. Advanced Sound Insulating Materials: An Analysis of Material Types and Properties. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(11):6156. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116156

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wilk-Jakubowski, Jacek Lukasz, Artur Kuchcinski, Lukasz Pawlik, and Grzegorz Wilk-Jakubowski. 2025. "Advanced Sound Insulating Materials: An Analysis of Material Types and Properties" Applied Sciences 15, no. 11: 6156. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116156

APA Style

Wilk-Jakubowski, J. L., Kuchcinski, A., Pawlik, L., & Wilk-Jakubowski, G. (2025). Advanced Sound Insulating Materials: An Analysis of Material Types and Properties. Applied Sciences, 15(11), 6156. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116156

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