Effect of TW-ZnO/SiO2-compounded shear thickening fluid on the sound insulation property of glass fiber fabric

A novel sound insulation composite was successfully fabricated by modifying glass fiber fabric with tetrapod ZnO whisker (TW-ZnO)/SiO2-compounded shear thickening fluid (STF). The rheological properties of the compounded STF were evaluated using a high-speed rotational rheometer. The microstructure and sound-insulating properties of the STF-treated glass fiber fabric (STF-fabric) were characterized using a scanning electron microscope and a two-channel acoustic analyzer, respectively. The shear thickening effect of TW-ZnO/SiO2-compounded STF can be better than that of SiO2-monodispersed STF. The sound insulation performance of the STF-fabric, which was superior to that of the original fabric, was related to the fabric weaving structure and shear thickening effect of the compounded STF.