Acoustic membrane

Acoustic membranes are elastic membranes 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.