A fabric jointly developed by Teijin Limited and Hayashi Telempu has been selected as soundproof material for the 2016 Toyota Prius, which launched in Japan in December 2015.

As per a Teijin press release, the sound proof material, V-Wave has been developed by Hayashi Telempu’s using Teijin’s V-Lap nonwoven polyester fabric.

“Nonwoven structure with vertically oriented fibres of V-Lap enables V-Wave to perform every bit as well as conventional soundproof material, yet weighs only half as much,” Teijin said.

“V-Lap is also environmentally friendly because it is made with recycled polyester,” the Japanese specialty fibre producer added.

“As environmental regulations become increasingly strict worldwide, there are growing demands for solutions that help to improve vehicle fuel efficiency, including weight reduction,” the company stated.

Teijin and Hayashi Telempu are also using V-Lap and V-Wave to develop other lightweight sound-absorption auto parts, such as for ceilings and doors.

V-Lap is a nonwoven fabric comprising fibres that are oriented vertically and is made with a unique manufacturing method to produce a structure that is bulky, lightweight and easy to mould.

V-Lap was first utilised as a cushioning material for items such as bedding, and now its superior sound-absorbing property has led to its use as a soundproofing material for vehicles.

Teijin is also developing V-Lap as a heat-insulating material for next-generation houses and as a super-lightweight ceiling material.

As a nonwoven product, V-Lap can be bonded to other films through composite fabrication. (AR)