Discover the latest materials and technologies for soundproofing the car
It happens that the soundproofing in the car we drive is unsatisfactory.The reasons for this are different.In cheaper cars, the manufacturer decided to save some savings, in others the engine works too loudly.In sports cars or with a sporty character, it is natural that the work of the engine and the exhaust system is more heard, but there are people who value acoustic comfort at the same time wanting to maintain appropriate performance.All this prompts you to think about the additional mute of the interior.This is possible and is not new.
For many years, additional silencing of the interior of the vehicle has been used basically for two reasons.One of them is to improve the operation of the audio system, where the interior soundproofing often is used in parallel with the replacement of speakers and playing equipment.In order to get high sound quality, additional soundproofing is even a must on the list of work.It also happens that the soundproofing of the car will cause acoustic improvement without an audio replacement, but this audiophile is not enough.
The second reason is to improve driving comfort.Car manufacturers, especially today, try to make them the quietest as possible as possible.This means that you need to decide on compromises, and in the cars of segment A and B the level of silencing the interior very often differs from the comfortable.Already at speeds of 80-90 km/h it gets unpleasant not only because.Also older cars are not necessarily well muted, even a higher class.Cars with diesel engines are also louder, which, wanting not to generate not only higher noise than gasoline, but also additional vibrations transferring to the body and upholstery elements.Sports cars are a separate topic.Customers want an attractive appearance, want good performance, but in everyday use, hard suspension or high noise in the cabin begins to be troublesome.While the replacement of the suspension is usually out of the question, the use of additional damping elements is quite common practice.
Materials used to sound soundproof
Materials that are used to soundproofing the interior of cars can generally be divided into two groups: soundproofing mats and soundproofing foams.
Smoking mats are the most commonly used element of the soundproofing of cars.They are made of various materials in the form of mat/slices, which are glued to selected body elements.They are used to soundproofing doors, floor, trunk, wheel arches and engine compartment.Until recently, the most affordable and for this reason the most popular solution were bituminous mats, which during assembly required heat forming.Unfortunately, they were characterized by a high weight, low temperature resistance, a tendency to crack, but also a low price.Today, even she is no longer an advantage.In addition, the assembly of bituminous mats is technologically difficult if it is to be done correctly.Currently, they are replaced with slightly more expensive, but definitely better butyl mats.
A typical butyl mat, also called alubutil, consists of an aluminum layer and butyl gum.Thanks to this construction, the rubber, which is a flexible part of the mat, perfectly fills all unevenness, e.g..embossing, and aluminum stiffens all soundproofing.Butyl mats are characterized by easy assembly, during which there is no need to heat the material, very good sealing properties, high strength and temperature resistance thanks to maintaining flexibility and low mass, which has a great impact on the durability of the door hindows and small for performance - acceleration and fuel consumption.Thanks to the adhesive layer and self -adhesive properties, butyl mats make it easier to install even amateurs.Smoking mats are used on sheets to eliminate vibrations, humming and rumbling of the body.They can be described as an insulation layer.
Drinking foam, formerly felt foams, today replaced by rubber, are usually used as a second layer of soundproofing, so -called.absorption, on mats, but on larger surfaces, such as floor, roof or luggage space.Thanks to them, the passenger cabin isolated from the noise of the flowing air body or noise generated by working tires.Rubber foam mats not only perfectly insulate noise, but also show high resistance to moisture and chemicals.Unlike felt soundproofs.The material also reduces the level of vibration.Like mats, the foams also have a self -adhesive layer and are easy to arrange on the body elements.They are also used to suppress plastic elements, such as door panels, which often fall into resonance.Interestingly, rubber foams also provide good thermal insulation, which is why they are used in vehicles such as motorhomes and not to calm them down.
Polyurethane foams used for the mask and engine chamber are another type of soundproofing foams.Such foam is hard -to -resistant chemicals, such as oil, fuel and dirt.Even if the foam caught fire, which is unlikely, the flame is small and goes out quickly.
It is worth adding that all types of flexible mats and foams with a self -adhesive layer have anti -corrosive properties thanks to difficult access of water or moisture at the contact site of the mat with body sheet metal.
Installation of an additional soundproofing of the car
Additional soundproofing of the car is most often used on the door and floor in the cabin and the engine mask, but also on the trunk floor, wheel arches, a terminal wall or roof.It all depends on where the most troublesome noise comes from or which of the sounds we want to eliminate.For example, in cars with quiet engines, often the most noise comes from the flowing air body and tires.In this case, there is no need to lay out with mats or foams.Noise from under the car (tire noise, exhaust system sound, propulsion system operation) suppresses with elements glued to the floor and lecturing with them all or part of the trunk surface.Air noise is easiest to eliminate by damping the door and roof.
In cars, generally loud or with a loud engine.However, in cars with four -wheel or rear -wheel drive (off -road, van, buses), the work of the drive shaft or the dashboard often causes a large noise in the interior.Then you should decide on a proper damping of the floor.In a sports car, wanting to maintain the pleasant sound of the engine, it is left unexpected, and if the most beautiful music plays out of the exhaust, it's best not to move the trunk floor.
Generally, the installation of mats and foams is based on the cleaning of the surface to which they are to be glued and its decarion, then cut out a specific shape and sticking on the body element.It is important not to leave the gaps between individual slices of mat or foam and eliminate the air maximally, which can remain between the material and the sheet.The biggest problem for an amateur is the dismantling of interior elements under which soundproofing materials are to be found.This is the only thing that can deter, especially in newer cars with ubiquitous electrics and electronics.The same disassembly of the side panels on the door may end in a fiasco, and yet after soundproofing the door you still have to fold everything.The doors are best muffled with three layers of matte.As for the outer sheet from the inside, it should be poured through the technological holes as the largest possible surface.Then the internal sheet is stuck, i.e. the one to which the upholstery elements are mounted.The culmination of the work as long as it is possible to stick the plastic door panel with a soundproofing foam.
More work, although not so difficult, will bring the floor of the car's floor materials.Here it is necessary to disassemble seats, sofa and often many plastic elements, such as the central tunnel or side panels.I think the trunk is probably the easiest to damp, because very often under its carpet we have a clean sheet.Usually, to avoid problems with re -assembly of interior elements, layers of damping materials up to 10 mm are used.
Is it worth using additional soundproofing of the car?
Of course it is worth it, because at a relatively low cost, travel comfort and the quality of the sound flowing even from factory speakers are improved.Of course, something at the expense of something, because each mat is an additional burden for the car, but with today's materials and their properties there is no longer a few kilos as before, when bituminous mats were used.Even if the mass increases by several kilograms, the driver will not feel any performance or higher fuel consumption.However, the sound of the closed door that has been suppressed can make you satisfied with the decision.
What is the cost of soundproofing the car?
For the materials themselves needed for a comprehensive soundproofing of the car with a double layer, i.e. butyl mat and soundproofing foam, you need to spend about PLN 1,500.I am talking about soundproofing the floor, trunk, mask, roof and door.Of course, a lot depends on the client's needs and requirements - you can also pay half or even less.It is worth considering what we want to soundproofing and what is not worth it.In this case, it is best to advise specialists.It is also good to decide to install in a specialized workshop, then you will save nerves when dismantling and installing interior elements - for them it is everyday life, which may be a nightmare for you.
You will pay about PLN 200-250 for labor, when soundproofing the door pair.The most expensive due to the large range of work is the damping of the floor, which, depending on the size of the car and its equipment, can cost from PLN 500 to 700.The cheapest is the soundproofing of the engine mask and in this case we suggest trying to do it yourself.Generally, labor with a comprehensive soundproofing of the entire car can cost from 1500 to over 2000 PLN.
The material was created in cooperation with the Bitmat Store.pl
