Topic summary
Acoustic membrane

Acoustic membranes are elasticmembranes used to produce, transmit or regulate sound. In musical instruments such as drums, it is the drumhead that is vibrated to produce sound; in microphones and loudspeakers, it is diaphragms and cones that transfer sound waves to and from electricity to play music and facilitate communication. Acoustic membranes are also used to prevent sound—barium-free viscoelastic polymers such as Acoustiblok, at 1/8-to-1/4-inch thickness, or Tecsound 50 heavy-duty vinyl, block out their way with their energy-converting function turning over to heat to silence walls and floors. Ultrathin self-healing membranes composed of polyborodimethylsiloxane effectively absorb low-frequency noise (200–1000 Hz) with over 95% efficiency and restore their acoustic function once injured to open new doors to construction, automotive and aerospace applications.