Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a relatively dimensionally stable, sound-absorbent and
transmission loss sheet or barrier.
Background Art
[0002] Certain equipment including piping has high noise transmission levels and consequently
work areas equipped with such equipment can have noise levels that are harmful to
occupants of said area. It has been desirable and customary to provide such areas
with lightweight, flexible sound absorbent or transmission loss sheets or barriers
to lower the noise level. The object of this invention is to provide an improved sound
absorbent and transmission loss barrier or sheet capable of effectively reducing the
noise level in a work area.
Disclosure and Practice of the Invention
[0003] The noise abatement materials of this invention can be of any shape but preferably
is supplied as a flexible sheet which can be readily cut and draped around the noise
producing apparatus or machinery to forestall noise transmission into or through a
work area. Usually the sheet is of 1.27 centimeters to 7.62 centimeters gauge that
can be hung, draped, wrapped or folded to enclose the noisy machinery or pipes and
can be adhered together with suitable adhesives or can be sewn together or connected
with fasteners to maintain the sound barrier in the desired relationship and position
relative to the noise producer.
[0004] The specific nature of this invention and its advantages can be more readily appreciated
by reference to the following representative and exemplary examples wherein all parts
and percentages are by weight unless otherwise designated.
EXAMPLE 1
[0005] A nonflammable mesh material of 33.75 to 540 grams per square meter was coated with
a plasticized vinyl chloride resin to give a mesh base sheet having preferably a width
of about 288 centimeters or more. This mesh base sheet was passed through calender
rolls to apply a predetermined amount of rubbery coating composition to each side
having the composition like that of the recipe of Table I. The specific gravity of
the compound is in the range of 1.50 to 2.25. The recipe is as set forth below in
Table I.

[0006] The above ingredients were mixed on a conventional rubber or plastic mixer to give
a mixture of uniform texture that can be applied on the calender to the mesh sheet.
A sheet of polyurethane foam of about 24 to 40 and preferably 25.6 to 32.5 kilograms
per cubic meter was cut from a polyurethane bun having the desired density to provide
a sheet of the desired thickness, usually .06 to 3.6 centimeters thick.
[0007] The nonflammable mesh base sheet having a coating of the rubbery composition of the
recipe, of predetermined gauge, preferably .05 to 8.1 centimeters on each face thereof,
is laminated to the polyurethane sheet by placing the two sheets in contact at elevated
temperature and pressure in a plate-press, press rolls or related pressure-temperature
means.
[0008] A laminate made as described comprising a polyvinyl chloride impregnated nonflammable
mesh sheet having predetermined gauge coating of the composition of the recipe of
Table I laminated to a 1.3 centimeter polyurethane foam sheet, had a sound transmission
class number of 28 and a noise reduction coefficient of 0.30 as measured by ASTM E90-75
and E413-73 for transmission loss and ASTM C423-66 for sound absorption.
[0009] Preferably the barrier is nonflammable and in these cases glass fiber mats or sheets
are preferred over other fabric materials. Since chlorinated polyethylene and polyvinyl
chloride can degrade by generation of HC1 it is desirable that they be stabilized
with suitable stabilizers such as a litharge dispersion in EPD rubber or the compounds
viz., tin and barium compounds used to stabilize polyvinyl chloride.
[0010] Any of the plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride can be used in this invention but
chlorinated paraffin wax, 10 to 35 percent chloride, can be used, too.
[0011] Although polyurethane foams are preferred, other foams such as polyvinyl chloride
or polyethylene foams can be used in place of the polyurethane foam.
[0012] While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose
of illustrating the invention it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that
various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit
or scope of the invention.
1. A sound barrier material characterized by a polyvinyl chloride impregnated mesh
sheet having a coating of about 5.08 to 8.3 centimeters gauge of a barium sulfate
loaded chlorinated polyethylene laminated to a foam of 24 to 40 kilograms per cubic
meter.
2. The sound barrier material of Claim 1 characterized by 50 to 200 parts of barium
sulfate being present in each 100 parts of chlorinated polyethylene coating said coating
containing from 36 to 48 weight percent of chlorine.
3. The sound barrier of Claim 1 characterized by stabilizing the material with litharge
and the plasticizer contains chlorinated paraffin wax.
4. The sound barrier of Claim 1 characterized by the foam being a polyurethane foam.