ACOUSTICAL

MATERIALS
By:MUTHUVEERAPPAN.C

DEFINITION

COMMERCIAL and CUSTOM

DESIGNED building materials and
surface treatment which
contribute significantly to
acoustical control or to noise
reduction

METHODS of
ABSORPTION

Frictional

Flexural

Resonating

ACOUSTICAL
MATERIALS

General Classifications:
Porous Materials
Panel or Membrane Absorbers
Cavity (Helmholtz) Resonators

POROUS MATERIALS
Soft, porous materials are very good
sound absorbers.
The basic acoustical characteristic of
these materials is a cellular network of
interlocking pores.
Within these pores, incident sound
energy is converted into heat.
Examples of these include acoustical
boards, diffusers, soft plasters, mineral
wool, and acoustical blankets, among
others.

POROUS MATERIALS

Characteristics:
Their sound absorption is more efficient at high,
rather than low frequencies. However, their
acoustical efficiency improves in the low
frequency range with increased thickness and
with distance to their solid backing

POROUS MATERIALS

Categories of Commercial
Materials:
Pre-fabricated Acoustical Units

Various types of perforated, fissured, or

textured materials constitute typical
units in this group
Commonly used materials include:
Acoustical Boards
Acoustic Hangers
Geocoustic Tiles
Diffusers

ACOUSTICAL
BOARDS
These can be
installed in several
ways:
Cemented to a solid
backing
Nailed or screwed to
wood framing
Laid in a ceiling
suspension system

ACOUSTICAL BOARDS

ACOUSTICAL BOARDS

ACOUSTICAL BOARDS
Advantages
Trade catalogs contain detailed
specifications
Easy installation and maintenance
Flexible absorption

Disadvantages
Difficult to conceal joints between units
Soft structure subject to damage
Paint redecoration harmful to absorption

ACOUSTIC
HANGERS

Acoustic Hangers or baffles- a system of fiber-board

panels that are wrapped with insulation and are hung
freely using wire or rope.

Sample of Acoustic
Hangers

ACOUSTIC HANGERS

GEOCOUSTIC TILES and PANELS

Geocoustic Tiles- special prefabricated units for random
application on walls and ceilings.

GEOCOUSTIC TILES and

PANELS

GEOCOUSTIC TILES and

PANELS

DIFFUSERS
Diffusers- absorptive material that have, irregular
surfaces, or angled or curved fronts, so when mounted on
a wall or the ceiling they stop parallel wall interference
and prevent standing waves.

DIFFUSERS

PLASTERS and SPRAYED-ON

MATERIALS
Acoustical Plasters and Sprayed-on Materials:
Absorbent paint applied in a semiplastic consistency.
There are two types:
Type I: composed of a cementitious material such
as gypsum, cement, or lime
Type II: Fibrous materials combined with a binder
agent, sprayed on with an air gun or blower

Advantages

Disadvantages

May be used for irregular surfaces

Difficult application

Aesthetic and decorative qualities

Difficult maintenance

ACOUSTIC
BLANKETS
Acoustic Blankets-

Also referred to as Isolation Blankets.

Materials manufactured from rock wool, glass fibers, wood fibers,
hair felt, etc.

ACOUSTIC
BLANKETS

ACOUSTIC FOAM
BOARDS
Acoustic Foam Boards- High density blankets with
covering;
also act as diffusers

ACOUSTIC FOAM
BOARDS

CARPETS and
FABRIC

PANEL
ABSORBERS
Panel Absorbers- Also referred to as Membrane Absorbers.
Impervious material installed in a solid backing but separated from
it by an air space.

CAVITY
RESONATORS
Cavity Resonators- Also referred to as Helmholtz
Resonators. Materials that consist of an enclosed body of
air, confined within rigid walls and connected by a narrow
opening to the surroundings space.

Classifications
Individual Cavity Resonators
Perforated Panel Absorbers
Slit Resonators

INDIVIDUAL CAVITY
RESONATORS
Individual Cavity Resonators- Standard concrete blocks,
using regular concrete mixture, but with slotted cavities

PERFORATED PANEL
ABSORBERS
Perforated Panel Absorbers- Perforated panels spaced
away from a solid backing

SLIT RESONATORS
Slit Resonators- Isolation blankets (or alternative) covered with
slits, the whole system forming a resonator

SLIT
RESONATORS

SPACE
ABSORBERS
Space Absorbers- Sound absorbing objects which are
suspended from the ceiling, used when regular boundary
enclosures of an auditorium do not provide a suitable or adequate
area for conventional acoustical treatment.

VARIABLE ABSORBERS
Variable Absorbers- Sliding, hinged, movable, and rotatable
panels constructed to expose either absorptive or reflective
surfaces.

Details to be examined in the selection of

sound absorbing finishes
Sound Absorption / Noise Reduction
Coefficient
Possible installation methods
Maintenance
Durability
Integration with room elements
Attraction to Vermin
Thermal Insulation values
Fire resistance
Cost and Availability
Aesthetics