Use of Pine (Pinus densiflora) Pollen Cones as an Environmentally Friendly Sound-Absorbing Material

This study examined the utility of pine (Pinus densiflora) pollen cones as an environmentally friendly material with sound-absorbing properties. Pine pollen cone samples with widths of 0.8–1.2 cm and lengths of 3.5–4.5 cm were prepared. After filling impedance tubes to heights of 6, 8, 10, or 12 cm with the pine pollen cones, the sound absorption coefficient of the pine pollen cones was investigated. The peak sound absorption frequency of the samples with a thickness of 6 cm was reached at 1,512 Hz; however, this value shifted to 740 Hz in samples with a thickness of 12 cm. Therefore, the sound-absorbing performance of pine pollen cones at low frequencies improved as the material thickness increased. According to KS F 3503 (Korean Standards Association), the sound absorption grade of pine pollen cones ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 M, depending on the material thickness of the pine pollen cones. In conclusion, the pine pollen cones demonstrated good sound absorption properties. They, thus, may be considered an environmentally friendly sound-absorbing material.