Get the latest tech news
Ultra-thin sound-blocking material effectively dampens traffic noise | EMPA's new mineral foam is 75% thinner than traditional sound absorbing materials, but equally effective
If you live in a noisy urban area, you're gonna love the sound of this. Researchers in Switzerland have developed a material that can dampen street noise while being four times thinner than similar-performing absorbers used in construction.
But beyond its ultra-thin profile, it has a neat trick up its sleeve: it can be can be tuned to specific frequency ranges, depending on what's causing a din outside, and what kind of space it's being installed in. Using a numerical model, the researchers can “simulate and even specifically influence the acoustic behavior of the entire material by varying pore size, perforation and layer structure.” The material's pore size, perforation, and layer structure can also be varied to change its acoustic behavior to suit different kinds of spaces – like stairwells, offices, large halls, and classrooms.
Or read this on r/tech