Acoustic Foam
Acoustic foam is a sound absorber used to line sound-reflective surfaces and reduce reverberation and echoes. This soundproofing foam is commonly used in recording studios, edit rooms, broadcast studios and home studios, although it can also be used to sound-proof a room containing a surround sound system or laundry room equipment. Airplane companies use the sound proof foam to line the walls of a passenger cabin, eliminating the noise within the airplane. Other areas where acoustic foam might be found are gyms, cafeterias, function halls and churches.
This sound proofing foam is typically made of urethane open-cell foam. Open cell foam is soft foam in which the cell walls, or surfaces of the bubbles, are broken and air fills all of the spaces in the material. This makes the foam soft or weak. The insulation value of this foam is related to the insulation value of the calm air inside the foam. Soundproofing foam reduces noise by allowing the sound energy to penetrate into the material and be dissipated by its cellular or fibrous nature prior to reaching the reflective surface it is mounted on. Sound foam products solve troublesome structural vibration and reduce noise.
Sound foam can also be covered with a film surface treatment which provides an excellent solution for use in harsh, moist, high temperature and chemical environments. Sound proof foam is an inexpensive form of soundproofing and is usually treated with dyes and/or chemical flame retardants such as an epoxy; this keeps it safe from excessive heat. The foam is also available in different colors, patterns and ranges of thickness. Alternative soundproofing materials to acoustic foam include rubber, magnesium oxide, and fiberglass. These materials come in flexible material that can be attached to any surface, wall insulators that are placed in between walls, and panels and boards that are placed decoratively on the wall for effective sound blocking and absorption.