Thermoplastic Floor Panel Sound Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rigid floor coverings with sound absorption layers are either ineffective in reducing footstep noise or require thick, impractical sound absorption layers that complicate installation and create tripping hazards due to increased thickness.
Innovation Solution
A panel design featuring a thermoplastic material with marked physical relaxation behavior at ambient temperature, combined with a fiber mat layer, where the thermoplastic material converts sound energy into heat for absorption, and is applied thinly to minimize thickness and maximize sound absorption without the need for additional boundary layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a thick sound absorption layer is used, then footstep noise reduction is improved, but installation complexity increases and tripping hazards are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sound absorption layer by using thermoplastic material with marked physical relaxation behavior at ambient temperature. This allows the material to be applied in a thin state (0.2-2.0 mm) while maintaining effective sound absorption through its viscoelastic properties, eliminating the need for thick layers and associated installation problems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining thermoplastic material with fiber mat (such as felt or fleece) to achieve effective sound absorption in a thin configuration. The composite material leverages the viscoelastic properties of thermoplastic and the fibrous structure to maximize sound energy dissipation without increasing thickness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a thick sound absorption layer is used, then footstep noise reduction is improved, but tripping hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the material parameters to use thermoplastic with marked physical relaxation behavior, the patent achieves effective sound absorption in a thin layer (0.2-2.0 mm), thereby eliminating tripping hazards associated with thick sound absorption layers while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mat-like materials are stuck directly to the back of rigid floor covering, then sound absorption is improved, but technical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the thermal and rheological parameters of thermoplastic material with marked physical relaxation behavior at ambient temperature. This allows the material to be applied thinly and bonded effectively to the floor covering back, achieving sound absorption without the high technical complexity of direct mat attachment methods
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces footstep noise by converting sound energy into heat within the thermoplastic layer, achieving better sound absorption results than prior art while maintaining a thin profile, thus avoiding installation issues and tripping hazards.
Implementation Method 1
the thermoplastic material is chosen such that it displaces a marked physical relaxation behaviour in the ambient temperature range
Implementation Method 2
The sound absorbing effect that can be achieved by this method, however, is unsatisfactory. Attempts have therefore been made to stick the above mat-like materials directly to the back of a rigid floor covering
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to floor covering comprising two different impact sound attenuating layers 5, 6.