Find answers to thermal acoustic insulation FAQs, frequently asked questions about insulation for controlling heat and noise.
Elasto Proxy custom-fabricates insulation for industrial, commercial, and military applications. We also supply standard products that we have developed in-house. You’ll find more information on our Insulation product page, but these thermal acoustic FAQs are a good place to start. You can also contact us to discuss your heat and noise control application.
What is thermal acoustic insulation?
Thermal acoustic insulation inhibits the transfer of heat and sound that is produced by and that can interfere with machinery and equipment. In the manufacturing and processing industries, this multi-functional insulation is used with machine enclosures, pipes, pumps, and valves. With heavy equipment and on-road or off-road vehicles, it’s used in floors, doors, cabs, side panels and engine bays.
Elasto Proxy custom-fabricates thermal acoustic insulation for industrial, commercial, and military applications. We also supply standard products that we have developed in-house. This article contains answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about controlling heat and sound, but you’ll find much more information on our Insulation product page. To discuss your specific application, contact us.
Why do you need thermal acoustic insulation?
Thermal acoustic insulation may not be visible to machine operators or drivers, but product designs that fail to account for heat and noise put vehicles, equipment, and personnel at risk. Big diesel engines run loud and hot, and high levels of noise and heat can violate occupational safety standards and make driving uncomfortable or unsafe. Heat can also damage sensitive components such as electronics. If machine sensors or on-board GPS systems fail, downtime can become costly.
How does thermal insulation work?
Thermal insulation reduces the transfer of heat between objects with different temperatures. According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the object with the lower temperature (such as from a hot diesel engine to a cool passenger cab). Because different materials conduct heat at different rates, material selection involves comparing the thermal conductivity (K) of potential insulators and balancing K against considerations such as cost.
How is heat transferred?
Heat is transferred through conduction, convection, or radiation.
- Conduction is heat that’s transferred by direct contact, such as from a piston to a piston ring.
- Convection is heat that flows or is blown through the air, such as from a radiator cooling fan.
- Radiated heat is transmitted by infrared waves, such as heat from a stove burner.
How does acoustic insulation work?
Acoustic insulation absorbs, transmits, or redirects sound waves. These vibrations travel through the air and, when they encounter objects, can result in unwanted sound (noise). Sound is measured in decibels (dB) and has a specific frequency distribution that’s measured in Hertz (Hz). Unlike standard noise control products, custom acoustic insulation can “tune out” specific frequencies.
How does sound travel?
Sounds has a source, path, and receiver.
- Sourceis the origin of the noise to control, such as the rumble of a diesel engine.
- Pathdescribes how the sound is transmitted, such as from the engine bay to inside the cab.
- Receiver considers the listener’s needs, such as regulatory limits on dB levels in the cabin.
What else do you need to know about noise?
Here are some other important facts about the science of sound.
- Noise is more than a nuisance. It’s a risk that carries costs.
- Pay attention to the path. The way sound travels may surprise you.
- Doubling the noise reduction may not cut the sound power in half.
- Decibel-level differences between sources drive perceptions of sound.
You’ll find more information on our Insulation product page.
How is thermal acoustic insulation made?
Elasto Proxy uses water jet cutting, a tool-less form of manufacturing, to convert thermal and acoustic materials into the shapes and sizes that you need. We also uses adhesive lamination to build sandwich-style structures that contain multiple materials, each with particular properties. With our taping services, we can provide you with ready-to-install solutions for controlling noise and heat.
Contact us to learn more about our services, including kitting and assembly packaging for thermal acoustic insulation and other industrial rubber products such as door and window gaskets.
