From Art to Science: A New Acoustic Baffle Material

With increased focus in today's vehicle surrounding interior “noise quality”, many new and existing material applications are being investigated. One existing application, not generally highlighted, is the use of heat reactive, expanding sealant materials used in the vehicle body structures know as ‘baffles’. This application, considered an art by many, is rapidly maturing to a science where many critical parameters must be defined. This paper will present the findings of one such exploration involving a new acoustic baffle material where the critical parameters have been investigated to further define the art and advance it into the science of acoustics.