BENEFITS OF USING MELAMINE FOAM INSULATION

Melamine foam introduction

Melamine foam insulation is made up of melamine-formaldehyde condensate. This type of foam has unique characteristics that make its appropriate for various insulation applications.

Product feature

The acoustic foam has unique soundproofing. This is because the foam is composed of a three-dimensional reticulated open-cell structure and high open porosity (opening rate is as high as 99.9%), the sound wave can easily and effectively enter the deep layer of the foam body, and is converted into the vibration of the grid to be consumed and absorbed, and can effectively eliminate reflected waves. The melamine foam has excellent sound absorption performance in a wide range of sound frequencies, especially in the absorption of low-frequency noise. The sound absorption coefficient reaches 0.85~1.07.

Acoustic foam is characterizing by its sound insulation property. This is attributed to the fact that the foam is made up of open-cell structure that ensures that the possible hindrances to sound transmission, which would create echoes in the material, are avoided.

Melamine foam insulation is characterized by fire-proofing properties attributed to the open-cell structure that reduces the likelihood of heat transmission through convection. Also, the carbon properties in the foam allow the foam to form a coke-coating on surfaces, which lowers the supply of oxygen on the surfaces thus limiting the likelihood of combustion.

Melamine foam insulation application industries

Melamine foam insulation is used in stadiums considering it offers acoustic and durability benefits. Also, such an application is due to the high moisture absorption capability and hardness, which increase the durability of the stadium walls prone to harsh external environmental conditions such as heat and high humid conditions.

The melamine form is applied in studios whereby it is applied in walls and ceilings aiming to reduce vibrations and transfer of sound waves due to its soundproofing property. Thus, the melamine foam is used on the internal surfaces in studio walls thereby offering soundproofing benefits on top of acoustic benefits.

Melamine foam is used in the aviation industry for manufacturing different components part of the aircraft. Such application of the melamine foam is attributed to its lightweight, which is required to enhance the safety of the aircraft.

Melamine foam insulation is used in railways due to its heat preserving, fire-retarded properties, and its lightweight. The melamine foam coating is mainly used in the frame of the cab and also between the frame and the cab aiming to insulate and also preserve the heat in the cab (Lobasov et al., 2019). Also, the sound-resistant properties allow its use outside the cab thereby reducing the loud noise mainly recorded outside the cab.

The acoustic foam is used in pipeline coatings. D’Alessandro et al., 2018) illustrates that the fire-retarded properties of melamine foam ensure that the foam keeps the plastic components (making up the pipelines) from warping up thus extending their durability.

The acoustic foam’s fire retarded property allows its application in machinery as a filer. Such ensures that the machinery components subject to heating are less flammable and self-extinguishable thereby ensuring that the foam smothers flames before they become uncontrollable.

The acoustic foam is also applied in vehicles. D’Alessandro et al. (2018) illustrate that the highly absorptive open-cell structure of the foam makes it suitable for use in vehicles aiming to improve acoustics and enhance thermal regulation. It is also used in internal cleaning due to its strong cleaning power.

Melamine foam comparative products

The acoustic foam application offers better heat insulation compared to fiberglass when used for heat insulation benefits, which works by slowing the spread of cold and heat by trapping pockets of the air (D’Alessandro et al., 2018). Melamine foam is thus better compared to fiberglass due to its acoustic benefits and better heat insulation properties.

The accost foam makes a better heat and sound insulator compared to the rock wool due to the higher moisture absorptive capacity in the melamine foam compared to the rock wool’s moisture absorptive properties. The foam also acts as a better sound insulator compared to the rock wool due to its highly loose open-cell structure in comparison with the rock wool.

Compared to the PU foam, melamine foam insulation offers better heat insulation considering that it does not emit toxic foams. Lobasov et al. (2019) illustrate that upon combustion, PU foam releases toxic fumes containing greenhouse gages that pollute the environment. Also, PU foam is highly flammable thus making it less effective in fireproofing applications compared to melamine foam.