>i am very curious about the application of papercrete as a soundproof
>material.. i would really appreciate if you would give me some
>information about the use of papercrete as a soundproof material...is
>it really effective? and is there tests made to prove that it is
>soundproof? tnx and godbless..
Given that papercrete isn't a standardized building product, I wouldn't expect any serious testing to have been done on it with regard to STC (sound transmission) or NRC (absorption). Based on the type of material and anecdotal reports, it would appear that it should be pretty effective as a sound transmission barrier. I doubt it's porous enough to provide much absorption, however it's probably better then a hard material like concrete or tile in that respect.
You could probably compare it to Celotex Sound Stop (soundboard). It is a compressed paper fiber type product (resembles really thick uncorrugated cardboard to me). This is routinely used for to reduce sound transmission in construction of recording studios, media rooms, etc. This is probably similar to papercrete made without the concrete.
Soundboard is only 1/2" thick too, so if you consider that they claim an STC rating of 60 across a wall consisting of a layer of soundboard & a layer of drywall on each side of standard studs with fiberglass in between, papercrete should compare favorably. Most papercrete is made much thicker to get past the fact that it has low tensile strength, so I'd think a big thick wall of papercrete would be an excellent material for soundproofing applications. If done in blocks or monolithic pours, it would provide continuous sound transmission barrier, without bridging that you'd get with materials that transmit sound more freely (like the studs in walls), increasing it's effectiveness.
Remember that a major source of sound transmission is air leaks, so be sure you seal up all penetrations well (doors, windows, wiring, HVAC, etc) regardless of what soundproofing materials you build with. Otherwise you can render even the best materials ineffective.
Greg
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercreters/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercreters/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:papercreters-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:papercreters-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
papercreters-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
