Current soundproofing materials are often made of plastic that cannot be easily recycled. In contrast, a research team from India says they have developed algae-derived membranes, bringing a more environmentally friendly alternative to soundproofing materials.
New features will be added in addition to sound insulation.
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology have developed a new soundproofing material with a gelatinous substance known as agar, derived from algae. The team changed both the thickness and porosity of the thin films they produced from agar.
To test the material, the researchers created a sound tube with two microphones, a speaker, and the developed film. While the speaker at one end of the sound tube and the film at the other end, one of the two microphones in the middle came from the speaker and the other microphone measured the reflected sound from the film.
The new membrane with a porosity of about 80% was found to show good results over a wide frequency range. The membrane performed similarly to the currently used soundproofing materials. The researchers say this biodegradable membrane could be an environmentally friendly solution as it doesn’t need petrochemicals.
The scientists plan to continue improving the membrane, adding new properties such as flame resistance. In addition, the use of other plant-based materials is another area of research.
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