Prepared by

Nahom Hadera
Lidia Yohannes
Haftom Aberha

INSULATION
Materials
Sound insulation materials are used to reduce the transmission of sound
waves through walls, ceilings, floors, and other surfaces. They can improve the
acoustic comfort and privacy of a room, as well as protect from external noise
sources.
factors that influence the sound insulation of a material are:
Density: Higher density materials tend to reflect more sound waves and prevent
them from passing through.
Porosity: Porous materials allow air to flow through them, which reduces the
reflection and transmission of sound waves. They also trap sound waves inside their
cavities, which reduces their energy and intensity.
Thickness: Thicker materials provide more resistance to sound waves and increase
the distance they have to travel to reach the other side.
Stiffness: Stiffer materials vibrate less when exposed to sound waves, which reduces
the amount of sound energy they transmit or radiate.
Damping: Damping is the ability of a material to dissipate sound energy into heat or
other forms of energy. Damping reduces the amplitude and duration of sound
waves. Based on this we have two categories:
 SOUND ABSORBING MATERIALS ARE DESIGNED
TO ABSORB THE SOUND ENERGY WITHIN A ROOM,
REDUCING THE REVERBERATION AND ECHO. THEY ARE
USUALLY SOFT, POROUS, OR FIBROUS MATERIALS, SUCH AS
ACOUSTIC FOAM, MINERAL WOOL, FIBERGLASS, CELLULOSE,
OR FABRIC. THEY ARE OFTEN APPLIED TO THE INNER
SURFACES OF WALLS, CEILINGS, AND FLOORS, OR USED AS
ACOUSTIC PANELS, TILES, OR CURTAINS. SOUND ABSORBING
MATERIALS CAN ENHANCE THE SOUND QUALITY AND
CLARITY OF A ROOM, BUT THEY DO NOT PREVENT THE
SOUND FROM ESCAPING OR ENTERING THE ROOM.

Acoustic foam Cellulose

Mineral wool
Fabric
Fibrous glass
Sound blocking materials are designed to block the sound waves
from passing through a surface, creating a sound barrier. They are usually
dense, heavy, or resilient materials, such as mass-loaded vinyl, green glue,
resilient channels, soundproof drywall, or acoustic caulk. They are often
applied to the outer surfaces of walls, ceilings, and floors, or used as
soundproof windows, doors, or underlayments. Sound blocking materials
can reduce the sound transmission between rooms or from outside sources,
but they do not affect the sound quality or clarity of a room.
Thermal Insulation materials are used to reduce heat loss or gain in
buildings, and to improve the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of
the occupants.

Insulation materials can be classified into four categories:

- fibrous
-cellular
- granular
- reflective

Each category has different characteristics, advantages, disadvantages,

and applications.
Fibrous insulation
These materials are made of fine fibers that trap air within their structure,
reducing the heat transfer by conduction and radiation. They are also good
sound insulators since they has a high porosity and low density. They are
usually produced in rolls, batts, blankets or loose-fill forms, and can be
installed in roofs, walls, floors, attics, etc.
Examples of Fibrous insulation materials are glass wool, rock wool, cellulose,
sheep’s wool, etc. They have low thermal conductivity, high fire resistance,
good sound absorption, but are susceptible to moisture and compression.
 - Glass wool: This is made of recycled glass or sand, melted and spun into
fine fibers. It has a high porosity and low density, which makes it a good
sound absorber. . However, glass wool is not very effective at blocking low-
frequency sounds, such as bass or traffic noise. It has a thermal
conductivity of 0.032-0.040 W/mK, a fire rating of A1 (non-combustible),
and a density of 10-80 kg/m3.
 - Rock wool: This is made of basalt or other volcanic rocks, melted
and spun into fine fibers. It also has a better performance at
blocking low-frequency sounds than glass wool. However, rock wool
is more expensive and heavier than glass wool, and it may also cause
skin irritation or respiratory problems if not handled properly. It has
a thermal conductivity of 0.035-0.045 W/mK, a fire rating of A1
(non-combustible), and a density of 15-200 kg/m3.
 - Cellulose: This is made of recycled paper or wood, treated with fire
retardants and insecticides, and shredded into loose-fill form. It has a high
porosity and a low density, which makes it a good sound absorber. It can also
reduce the transmission of sound by creating air gaps between the fibers.
However, cellulose is not very effective at blocking low-frequency sounds, but It
requires a special equipment and technique to install, as it is usually blown into
wall cavities or sprayed onto surfaces.
It has a thermal conductivity of 0.035-0.040 W/mK, a fire rating of B2
(flammable), and a density of 25-70 kg/m3.
 - Sheep's wool: This is made of natural wool fibers, treated with
fire retardants and insecticides, and processed into rolls, batts or
loose-fill forms. . It has a high porosity and a low density, which
makes it a good sound absorber. It can also reduce the
transmission of sound by creating air gaps between the fibers. It
has a thermal conductivity of 0.035-0.040 W/mK, a fire rating of
B2 (flammable), and a density of 15-25 kg/m3.
Type Thermal property Application
conductivity
(W/mk) at 75F

Glass wool 0.034 Non-combustible, Thermal and acoustic

lightweight, sound- insulation of roofs, walls,
absorbing, resistant to floors, ducts, pipes,
corrosion and moisture etc.1

Rock wool 0.034 Non-combustible, fire- Thermal and acoustic

resistant, water- insulation of roofs, walls,
repellent, durable, floors, ducts, pipes, etc.
sound-absorbing
Cellulose 0.040 Eco-friendly, Thermal and acoustic
biodegradable, fire- insulation of attics,
resistant, moisture- walls, floors, etc.
resistant, sound-
absorbing
sheep’s wool 0.037 Eco-friendly, renewable, Thermal and acoustic
biodegradable, fire- insulation of roofs, walls,
resistant, moisture- floors, etc.
regulating, breathable,
hypoallergenic
Cellular insulation
- materials are made of closed or open cells of plastic or rubber, such as
polystyrene, polyurethane, phenolic foam, etc. They have very low
thermal conductivity, good moisture resistance, high compressive
strength, but are flammable and may emit toxic gases when burned.

Some examples of cellular insulation materials are:

 - Polystyrene: This is made of styrene monomers,
polymerized and expanded into closed cells. It has
a thermal conductivity of 0.030-0.040 W/mK, a fire
rating of B3 (easily flammable), and a density of
10-35 kg/m3. It can be classified into two types:
expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded
polystyrene (XPS).
- Polyurethane: This is made of isocyanate and polyol, reacted and
expanded into closed cells. It has a thermal conductivity of 0.020-
0.030 W/mK, a fire rating of B3 (easily flammable), and a density of
30-60 kg/m3. It can be applied as rigid boards or spray foam.
 - Phenolic foam: This is made of phenol and formaldehyde,
reacted and expanded into closed cells. It has a thermal
conductivity of 0.020-0.025 W/mK, a fire rating of B1 (difficult to
ignite), and a density of 35-60 kg/m3. It can be applied as rigid
boards or spray foam.
Type Thermal property Application
conductivity
(W/mk) at 75F

0.030 Lightweight, rigid, Thermal insulation of

Polystyrene moisture-resistant, roofs, walls, floors,
durable, low thermal foundations, etc.
conductivity

Polyurethane 0.021 Lightweight, rigid or Thermal insulation of

flexible, moisture- roofs, walls, floors, pipes,
resistant, durable, low tanks, etc.
thermal conductivity

Phenolic foam 0.021 Lightweight, rigid, Thermal insulation of

moisture-resistant, fire- roofs, walls, floors, pipes,
resistant, low thermal ducts, etc.
conductivity
Granular insulation materials:
- These materials are made of loose particles that have air spaces
between them, reducing the heat transfer by conduction and
convection. They are usually produced in bags or sacks, and can
be poured or blown into cavities, walls, floors, etc.
Some examples of granular insulation materials are:

- Perlite
- Vermiculite
- Expanded clay
 - Perlite: This is made of volcanic glass, heated and expanded into
spherical particles. It has a thermal conductivity of 0.040-0.050
W/mK, a fire rating of A1 (non-combustible), and a density of 30-150
kg/m3.
 - Vermiculite: This is made of hydrated magnesium aluminum silicate,
heated and expanded into worm-like particles. It has a thermal
conductivity of 0.045-0.055 W/mK, a fire rating of A1 (non-combustible),
and a density of 50-200 kg/m3.
 - Expanded clay: This is made of clay, heated and expanded into
lightweight aggregates. It has a thermal conductivity of 0.080-
0.120 W/mK, a fire rating of A1 (non-combustible), and a density
of 300-800 kg/m3.
Type Thermal property Application
conductivity
(W/mk) at 75F

Perlite 0.043 Lightweight, porous, Thermal insulation of

fire-resistant, sound- roofs, walls, floors,
absorbing, chemically cryogenic tanks, etc.
inert

Vermiculite 0.0043 Lightweight, porous, Thermal insulation of

fire-resistant, sound- roofs, walls, floors,
absorbing, chemically attics, etc.
inert

Expanded clay N/A Lightweight, porous, Thermal insulation of

fire-resistant, durable, roofs, walls, floors,
eco-friendly foundations, etc.
Reflective insulation materials:
- These materials are made of thin layers of metal foil or film, such as
aluminum or polyester, that have very low emissivity and high reflectivity,
reducing the heat transfer by radiation. They are usually produced in rolls,
sheets or laminates, and can be installed in roofs, walls, floors, etc. Some
examples of reflective insulation materials are:
 - Aluminum foil: This is made of pure aluminum, rolled into thin
sheets. It has an emissivity of 0.03, a reflectivity of 0.97, and a
thickness of 0.006-0.2 mm. It can be used alone or in combination
with other materials, such as paper, cardboard, plastic, etc.
 - Polyester film: This is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
extruded into thin sheets. It has an emissivity of 0.05, a reflectivity of
0.95, and a thickness of 0.012-0.075 mm. It can be used alone or in
combination with other materials, such as aluminum, paper, plastic, etc.
Type Thermal property Application
conductivity
(W/mk) at 75F

Aluminum foil N/A Reflective, Radiant barrier or

lightweight, vapor barrier for roofs,
durable, moisture- walls, floors,
combined with other
resistant, fire-
insulation materials
resistant etc.

Polyester film N/A Transparent, Suitable for electrical

lightweight, insulation, wires,
durable, moisture- transformers,
membranes, flexible
resistant, fire-
printed circuit,
resistant Radiant barrier or
vapor barrier for roofs,
walls, floors, etc.