Silence is golden: How noise-reducing materials improve health

Since most of the time we are surrounded by noise, we perceive it as a matter of course. And therein lies the great danger: because noise makes us sick.

This is not just an assumption that many people would probably agree with. It is a fact. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), environmental noise and specifically traffic-related noise is responsible for the loss of more than one million healthy life years each year in Western Europe due to impairment or premature mortality. Aircraft noise, road, industrial, and railway noise, especially in urban areas, can be the cause of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, as well as type 2 diabetes. A connection with the development of depression is currently also being investigated. The reason for this is that noise pollution disturbs our sleep and relaxation, and therefore our mental well-being and balance.

In order to protect us from noise, something must be done. On the one hand, noise generation must be reduced, and on the other hand, exposure to noise must be minimized. Innovative developments within automotive industry, the construction sector, and rail transportation make it possible.

Protecting passengers from noise is of crucial importance. This can be achieved by using an interlayer film in car glazing. The film, originally developed to protect passengers from flying glass splinters in the event of an accident, is made from the plastic polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Today, this interlayer film is additionally equipped with sound-absorbing properties, based on a multi-layer process technology in which a PVB core layer is fitted between two PVB interlayer films (PVB outer layers). This helps to dampen external noises, such as traffic and city noise, and also minimizes acoustic effects caused by wind friction or rain. If the vehicle has a large panoramic roof window, the acoustic film shows an improvement of 2 dB compared to a window without acoustic function.

The interlayer film for glass is based on a PVB core layer between two two PVB interlayer films (PVB outer layers).

However, the use of this interlayer film with acoustic function is not only limited to the automotive sector; it is also becoming increasingly important for architectural glazing. It reduces external noise by up to 40 percent more than standard PVB films. This ensures a quiet environment in these buildings, such as office complexes, airports, hotels, and public buildings that are exposed to various sources of noise within urban areas. For example, it is already used at London Heathrow Airport, the One World Trade Center in New York, and the British Museum in London.

Interlayer films with acoustic function are being used in The British Museum in London and enable an undisturbed discovery of history and culture.

While trying to identify other sources of noise, one will inevitably come across rail transportation. This form of transportation will become increasingly important for achieving climate targets in the upcoming years. It is therefore crucial to use innovative solutions to not only make train journeys more pleasant for passengers but also to protect residents living near the railway from noise emissions. This is made possible by rail web shielding, a thin metal cover on the rail to which a special Calmmoon technology is glued. This technology, which uses a sound-absorbing foam material, helps to reduce noise and vibrations that can spread through the air.

Calmmoon technology contributes to the reduction of noise and noise and vibrations in rail transportation.

These examples show that a lot is already being done to tackle the problem of noise efficiently and therefore minimize health risks. It is a broad field and as a company with expertise in this area, it is our task to continue to move forward responsibly.