Skip to main content

Acoustic properties of commercial thermal insulators

Buy Article:

$15.00 + tax (Refund Policy)

Material manufacturers give very limited or no information of the acoustic properties of thermal insulators in broad perspective. The purpose of our study was to compare the acoustic performance of commercially available thermal insulators. Thirteen insulator types produced by several manufacturers were studied. The acoustic performance was determined holistically by measuring six acoustic quantities: sound reduction index of bare insulator, sound reduction index of encapsulated insulator (insulator between two boards), normal incidence sound absorption coefficient, airflow resistivity, dynamic stiffness per unit area, and reduction of impact sound pressure level in a floating floor. All measurements were conducted according to prevailing ISO standards in an experienced test laboratory. The acoustic performance differed significantly between insulator types for each acoustic quantity. The ranges were 1027 dB, 3352 dB, 0.200.78, 3.02700 kPas/m2, 1.5730 MN/m3, and 1536 dB, when the thickness of the insulator was 100 mm. Closed-pore insulator types usually carried worse acoustic properties than open-pore insulator types. Lower thermal conductivity was associated with worse acoustic performance of two acoustic quantities. Insulator manufacturers should consider to better declare the acoustic properties of insulator products, because this knowledge is needed in the acoustic design of building constructions and other applications.

The requested document is freely available to subscribers. Users without a subscription can purchase this article.

Sign in

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: Turku University Of Applied Sciences

Publication date: 01 February 2023

More about this publication?
  • The Noise-Con conference proceedings are sponsored by INCE/USA and the Inter-Noise proceedings by I-INCE. NOVEM (Noise and Vibration Emerging Methods) conference proceedings are included. All NoiseCon Proceedings one year or older are free to download. InterNoise proceedings from outside the USA older than 10 years are free to download. Others are free to INCE/USA members and member societies of I-INCE.

  • Membership Information
  • INCE Subject Classification
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content