Sound absorber

The metal is very effective as a sound absorber, is used as a radiation shield around X-ray equipment and nuclear reactors, and is used to absorb vibration. White lead, the basic carbonate, sublimed white lead, chrome yellow, and other lead compounds are used extensively in paints, although in recent years the use of lead in paints has been drastically curtailed to eliminate or reduce health hazards. 

The development of active ceramic-polymer composites was undertaken for underwater hydrophones having hydrostatic piezoelectric coefficients larger than those of the commonly used lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics (60—70). It has been demonstrated that certain composite hydrophone materials are two to three orders of magnitude more sensitive than PZT ceramics while satisfying such other requirements as pressure dependency of sensitivity. The idea of composite ferroelectrics has been extended to other appHcations such as ultrasonic transducers for acoustic imaging, thermistors having both negative and positive temperature coefficients of resistance, and active sound absorbers. 

Miscellaneous Properties. The acoustical properties of polymers are altered considerably by their fabrication into a ceUular stmcture. Sound transmission is altered only slightly because it depends predominandy on the density of the barrier (in this case, the polymer phase). CeUular polymers by themselves are, therefore, very poor materials for reducing sound transmission. They are, however, quite effective in absorbing sound waves of certain frequencies (150) materials with open ceUs on the surface are particulady effective. The combination of other advantageous physical properties with fair acoustical properties has led to the use of several different types of plastic foams in sound-absorbing constmctions (215,216). The sound absorption of a number of ceUular polymers has been reported (21,150,215,217). 

CeUular urea—formaldehyde and phenoHc resin foams have been used to some extent in interior sound-absorbing panels and, in Europe, expanded polystyrene has been used in the design of sound-absorbing doors (233). In general, cost, dammabUity, and cleaning difficulties have prevented significant penetration of the acoustical tile market. The low percent of redection of sound waves from plastic foam surfaces has led to their use in anechoic chambers (216). 

The sound-absorbing properties of acoustical materials also are influenced by the manner in which the materials are mounted. Standard mounting methods for use in laboratory testing are specified in ASTM E795-92 (2). Unless noted otherwise, pubflshed data for acoustic ceiling materials are for Mounting Type E-400, for which the material being tested is suspended 400 mm below a hard surface. 

Because the reverberation room test method approximates many real-world conditions, it is used to derive sound-absorption coefficients for evaluating the effect of most actual appHcations of sound-absorbing treatments. Sound-absorption coefficients pubflshed in acoustical textbooks and by manufacturers of acoustical materials are almost exclusively from reverberation room tests, and this may be assumed unless specified otherwise. 

Other fibrous and porous materials used for sound-absorbing treatments include wood, cellulose, and metal fibers foamed gypsum or Pordand cement combined with other materials and sintered metals. Wood fibers can be combined with binders and dame-retardent chemicals. Metal fibers and sintered metals can be manufactured with finely controlled physical properties. They usually are made for appHcations involving severe chemical or physical environments, although some sintered metal materials have found their way into architectural appHcations. Prior to concerns regarding its carcinogenic properties, asbestos fiber had been used extensively in spray-on acoustical treatments. 

Resonant Sound Absorbers. Two other types of sound-absorbing treatments, resonant panel absorbers and resonant cavity absorbers (Helmholtz resonators), are used in special appHcations, usually to absorb low frequency sounds in a narrow range of frequencies. Resonant panel absorbers consist of thin plywood or other membrane-like materials installed over a sealed airspace. These absorbers are tuned to specific frequencies, which are a function of the mass of the membrane and the depth of the airspace behind it. Resonant cavity absorbers consist of a volume of air with a restricted aperture to the sound field. They are tuned to specific frequencies, which are a function of the volume of the cavity and the size and geometry of the aperture. 

Uses. Sound-absorbing materials are frequendy used to reduce reverberation, or the persistence of sound in a space after generation of the sound ceases to reduce focused reflections from concave surfaces to prevent echoes, or delayed sound reflections from distant surfaces and to prevent the buildup of sound by multiple reflections within rooms and other enclosures. Sound-absorbing materials also are used to reduce the transmission of noise from one location to another by multiple reflections from sound-reflecting surfaces. 

I oise Transmission Reduction in HVACSystems. One common use of sound-absorbing treatment is to reduce noise transmission in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems (6). The treatments ate used to reduce the transmission of fan noise and air turbulence noise through ducts into occupied spaces. Noise transmission reduction in duct systems is described in terms of insertion loss, the difference in sound power level or sound pressure level measured at a given location before and after installation of the treatment or sound attenuation, the reduction in sound power between two locations affected by a sound source. The units ate decibels. 

Products. There is a large number of commercially available sound-absorbing products for use on ceilings, walls, and for other special appbcations. Sound absorption coefficients and NRC values for some sound-absorbing products and treatments ate indicated in Table 2. 

Table 2. Sound-Absorption Coefficients (a) for Some Sound-Absorbing Treatments...

Metal Pan Assemblies. These units consist of tiles and panels formed from perforated aluminum or steel with pads of fiber glass or mineral wool inserted into the pans to provide the sound absorption. They are used primarily for ceilings in a similar manner to acoustical tiles and panels. The pads are sometimes sealed in plastic film to prevent absorption of moisture, dirt, and odors. The perforated metal is relatively sound transparent and functions as the finished ceiling and the support for the sound-absorbing material. The perforated metal by itself has no acoustical value. 

Custom decorative sound-absorbing treatments for wall surfaces are frequentiy used in auditoriums and theaters, especially for control of echoes from rear walls. Typical treatments consist of prefabricated or custom-built wood grilles over fiber glass or mineral wool blankets or batts. 

Draperies. Draperies of light weight or open-weave fabrics are ineffective for sound-absorbing purposes. Heavy draperies, such as flannel and velour, can provide useful sound absorption if properly installed. For best results they should be hung with 100% fullness, ie, 2 nC for every nC of wall or window surface covered. The sound-absorbing properties also are affected by the amount of space between the draperies and the surface behind them. 

Acoustical Louvers. Acoustical louvers are used in building mechanical systems when exterior walls are penetrated for fresh air intake, exhaust, or rehef air, in situations where the impact of HVAC noise is of concern in the surrounding environment. The louvers consist of a series of hoUow sheet metal blades. The bottom faces of the louver blades are perforated and the blades are filled with fibrous sound-absorbing material. Typical acoustical louvers are 20 cm (8 in.) to 30 cm (12 in.) in depth. The amount of insertion loss they provide is limited. 

By providing a sound-absorbing fan eover at the non-driving end, as shown in Figure 7.12... 

Acoustic muff (muffler) Sound-absorbing material that is placed around a noisy item in a plant. 

Acoustic pod Sound-absorbing material inserted in ductwork to absorb sound. 

Schallstarke, /. intensity of sound, schalltot, a. acoustically dead, nonresonant. Schallverstarkung, /. sound amplification, schsilweich, a. sound-absorbent. 

No sound-absorbing hood necessary to garantuee max. 80 dB (A) in 1 m distance... 

Lightweight mats of fibres, which can be die-cut and thermally moulded, can be applied behind any interior trim panel, door panels, headliners or package shelves as superior sound absorbers. 

---