MATERIALS FOR ACOUSTICS

The materials used for acoustics can broadly categorized into the
following types :
Barrier Board
Plastering wall and soundproofing
Acoustic underlay
Soundproofing glue
Glass wool insulation
Cellulose insulation
Natural wool insulation
Polyurethane foam insulation
Rock wool insulation
BARRIER BOARD
USAGE:
Barrier boards, or acoustic boards, are two outer
layers sandwiching a special sound absorbing
material.
The outer layers can be made of wood, plaster or
some other composite and the inner layer is
usually a sponge foam of some kind


EFFECIENCY:
Barrier boards are designed to absorb sound in the high to mid frequencies, and
can reduce noise levels by up to 75%.
They are good for reducing mechanical sound transmission too very little additional
bulk.
They are normally used for blocking out traffic noise or isolating a home theatre.

SHORT COMINGS
Barrier boards will never totally account for all sound absorption on their own.
For additional soundproofing, you may need to install further insulation on the inside
or outside of the wall.

PLASTERING WALL AND
SOUNDPROOFING
USAGE:
Plasterboard is used to provide a faade to hide the
framing and make solid interior walls.
Where it applies to sound insulation though, the
density of the inside core is varied for different
application making it tougher
Used in the partition of the frame of two or more
subdivided dwelling.

EFFECIENCY:
Because it's a rigid material with no absorbing layers, plasterboard is less effective
than other types of sound insulation,
Airborne noise, though, can be reduced by up to 15% through a dense core
plasterboard. Where plasterboard is used as an insulating layer between two wall
frames though, it can reach over 30%.
SHORTCOMINGS:
As a wall material, plasterboard is less effective than other insulation types
because it's a rigid material and will transmit mechanical sound through a frame
very well. Between frames though as an insulating layer. Basically used as a
substitute for walls




ACOUSTIC UNDERLAY
USAGE:
Acoustic underlays are materials designed to sit
beneath floor coverings to dampen sounds that would
otherwise carry through the floor.
An acoustic underlay may have a layer of polyester
matting as a sound absorber sandwiched between two
layers of rubber sheeting, which dampens vibrations.
Acoustic underlays often have additional benefits too -
like increasing your floors thermal insulation.
EFFECIENCY:
Acoustic underlays are able to prevent a good amount of sound from passing through
floors, They are particularly good for dampening footfall and other vibrational noise
from passing between floors.
Specialist acoustic underlays can decrease the amount of sound that travels between
floors by around 13db-25db.
SHORT COMINGS :
Adding more layers of acoustic underlay is rarely a possibility - it would make the floor
too unstable, and raise it too high from the subfloor.
Sound transmission can also be reduced while keeping the floor solid without making it
unstable
SOUNDPROOFING GLUE
USAGE:
Cheap and versatile, it works by putting extra distance
between two layers of rigid building materials such as
plasterboard or OSB.
Sound would typically hit the wall and vibrate it, causing a
resonant wave to occur on the other side of the wall, thus
passing along the sound.
The addition of soundproofing glue between these layers
causes the wave to decay much faster.

EFFECIENCY:
It varies because it sits between two layers of other materials, its effectiveness is
dependent on its application.
However it is worth noting that multiple layers will increase its effectiveness.
It is also especially good at reducing low frequency noise such as the bass from a
decent sound system or explosion sound effects in a home theatre.
SHORT COMINGS
While not a cover-all solution, there is little reason not to recommend this type of
application for soundproofing. It becomes particularly effective when combined
with other forms of acoustic insulation such as sound dampening plasterboard.
GLASS WOOL INSULATION
USAGE:
The way it's made is a bit like the way fairy floss is
spun; molten liquid glass made from sand and
recycled glass products is pulled through a
superfine mesh by centrifugal force, and the tiny
strands dry and cool on contact with air.
The individual fibres are held together with a
binding agent, which helps to hold glass wool
together and give it strength.
Used in heavy industrial scale mech. noise
insulation.
EFFECIENCY:
Glass wool batts can help to reduce the transmission of sound, especially
between walls, but their low density allows for more sound to travel through than
heavier forms of insulation.
The Rw value for glass wool can range between 25-40, so if soundproofing is
important, you will need to look for higher rated batts or another insulation
method.
SHORTCOMING:
May not be user friendly as the material may be hostile for opertaors
CELLULOSE INSULATION
USAGE:
Loose cellulose insulation is blown into roof
cavities, creating a layer of insulated cover.
This type of insulation is one of the most highly
regarded methods of insulating a house.
Cellulose insulation is used as a blow-in
insulation for walls in many countries,
EFFECIENCY:
Cellulose is a very effective acoustic insulator, with an approximate Rw
value of 50+, compared to 36-39 for glass wool (fibreglass) batts.
It owes much of its noise blocking ability to its density and lack of air
pockets for sound to travel in.
SHORT COMINGS:
It transfers moisture inside the wall cavity and create mould and
dampness.


NATURAL WOOL
INSULATION
USAGE:
Basically used as a substitute to the board
family acoustic panels as being a fiber it does
not chip away the corners.
Also it is not as irritant as other fiber rolls are
used to be and is quiet smooth
Used as a filler material between the barrier
board.
EFFECIENCY:
Wool is a good sound insulator, though its effectiveness is directly related
to its thickness.
Rw value ratings of around 40 are common for average thicknesses
(approximately 600mm) and increase to 50+ with additional thickness.
SHORT COMINGS:
Natural wool is a more expensive option in terms of material cost compared
to glass wool or mineral wool batts.



POLYURETHANE FOAM INSULATION
USAGE:
The rigid polyurethane foam panel insulation is usually
installed in sheets between the inner and outer wall - or cut
to fit in between joists or wall studs in a frame like batts are.
There are two types; open and closed cell foam.
Open cell foam relies on air to block the conduction of
heat, while closed cell foam has much smaller bubbles
which are not connected to each other and which are
filled with a highly thermally resistant gas.

EFFECTIVENESS:
Spray foam insulation makes for a more effective sound barrier than batts, as
there aren't any small gaps for sound to pass through alongside the beams and
joists
Polyurethane is known to be very good at straining out mid-range frequencies
(like conversation and loud music).
Specific Rw values will largely depend on what other materials youre using in
wall construction as these will affect the resonance capabilities of the wall as a
whole.
SHORT COMING:
Spray foam is one of the more expensive options as far as insulation goes - in some
cases it's up to 3-4 times the cost of batts
ROCK WOOL INSULATION
USAGE:
Installing ROCKWOOL insulation provides a real
reduction in external noise from traffic or neighbours,
or internal noise between floors and rooms.
It allow you to design the right acoustic environment
for each space, whether its a school hall, a concert
hall or the rooms of a new home.
EFFECIENCY:
Rock wool batts will help to reduce the transmission of sound (especially
between walls), but their lower density allows for more sound to travel
through than other heavier forms of insulation.
The Rw value for rock wool batts generally range from 25-40, so if total
soundproofing is important, you will need to look for another insulation
method that's specifically designed for the task.




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