Melamine acoustic foam: absorption that also passes the fire test
Melamine acoustic foam is an open-cell, fibre-free absorber made from a melamine-formaldehyde polymer network. It is the material architects, transport engineers and equipment manufacturers reach for when a space needs sound control and the specification also demands fire performance — two requirements that ordinary polyurethane acoustic foam rarely satisfies at the same time.
FoamTech foams, cures and cuts this material on our own lines in Yiwu and Zhengzhou, China, and supplies it as sheet, shaped panel or die-cut part, factory-direct.
Who makes it. FoamTech is a melamine foam manufacturer founded in 2014, with plants in Yiwu and Zhengzhou and a combined capacity of 300,000 m³ a year. Melamine acoustic foam is one of the material families produced on those lines.
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At a glance
- NRC up to 0.95 on 25-50 mm sections
- Density 8–40 kg/m³ — around 99% air
- UL94 V-0 rated, no added flame retardants
- ASTM E84 Class A surface burning
- Fibre-free and dimensionally stable
- Shaped parts — wedge, pyramid and egg crate
How open-cell melamine foam absorbs sound
Sound absorption is a mechanical process. When a sound wave meets an open-cell foam, the air inside the cells is forced to move, the cell walls flex, and a share of the acoustic energy is converted into heat. The more internal surface the wave has to travel across, the more energy is lost.
Melamine foam is more than 99% air by volume, suspended in a fine three-dimensional network of cell walls. That structure gives it a large internal surface in a very light material, which is why it absorbs efficiently without the mass that a dense barrier would need.
- Thickness controls low-frequency performance. A thin sheet absorbs high frequencies well; extending to 50 mm or leaving an air gap behind the panel moves the effective range downwards.
- The air gap is a free upgrade. Mounting a panel away from the wall by the same depth as its thickness gives a noticeable gain in the low-mid band.
- Shapes break up specular reflection. Wedge, pyramid and egg-crate profiles scatter what is not absorbed, which is why they are common in rooms where standing waves are a problem.
The result is an absorber that behaves predictably across the speech and machinery bands rather than only dulling the top end.
Forms and formats we supply
Because the material is produced in-house, it can be supplied in the shape the installation needs rather than only in a flat sheet.
- Flat sheet and panel — the general-purpose absorber for wall and ceiling lining.
- Acoustic wedge — cut profile for studios, test cells and equipment enclosures.
- Pyramid profile — a deeper, broader-profile absorber for rooms with strong reflections.
- Egg-crate profile — a compact pattern used where space behind the panel is limited.
- Ceiling tiles and baffles — for open offices and halls where overhead absorption is the main lever.
- Faced and laminated panels — bonded to foil, film, fabric or a barrier layer to add thermal duty or a specific facing.
- Die-cut parts — cut to a drawing for equipment housings and appliance lining.
Typical acoustic and safety data
Figures below describe our standard material. Absorption is measured on the section stated; changing thickness or mounting condition moves the curve.
| Property | Value | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sound absorption (NRC) | 0.85 – 0.95 (25–50 mm) | ASTM C423 |
| Density | 8 – 40 kg/m³ | GB/T 6343 |
| Thickness | 1 – 20 mm standard; up to 400 mm on request | GB/T 14899 |
| Flammability | UL94 V-0 rated | UL94 |
| Surface burning | Class A (FSI 10 / SDI 25) | ASTM E84 |
| Thermal conductivity | ≤0.034 W/(m·K) | GB/T 10294 |
| Service temperature | −240 to +220 °C | — |
| Open-cell content | > 99% | — |
| Water repellency (hydrophobic grade) | ≥98% | — |
| Formaldehyde emission | Not detected | SGS ISO 15234 |
Where melamine acoustic foam is specified
The material turns up wherever absorption and fire performance have to be satisfied by one product.
- Commercial interiors — open offices, meeting rooms, lobbies and auditoria where reverberation has to come down and the ceiling and wall lining must meet a fire class.
- Transport interiors — CRRC carriages and vehicle cabins, where a project specification may call for a fire performance class and low weight simultaneously.
- Industrial and HVAC equipment — acoustic enclosure lining, duct treatment and machine housings, often combined with thermal duty.
- Studios and test cells — wedge and pyramid profiles for reflection control in critical listening and measurement rooms.
- Appliances and consumer equipment — die-cut absorbers inside housings, where a fibre-free material is preferred.
- Data centres and power equipment — lining cabinets and enclosures for fan noise, where the same foam also contributes thermal insulation.
Related pages: melamine foam for professional acoustics and melamine acoustic insulation foam.
Frequently asked questions
Is melamine acoustic foam the same as polyurethane acoustic foam?
No. Both are open-cell absorbers, but they are different polymers with different fire behaviour. Polyurethane foam generally needs added flame retardants to pass a fire test, and it melts and drips when it burns. Melamine foam resists flame through its own polymer structure, is rated UL94 V-0 and does not drip. If your specification includes a fire class, that difference decides the choice.
What NRC can I expect?
Roughly 0.85 to 0.95 on 25–50 mm sections, depending on thickness and how the panel is mounted. Leaving an air gap behind the panel improves low-frequency performance without adding material.
Does it work as thermal insulation too?
Yes. The same open-cell structure gives a thermal conductivity of ≤0.034 W/(m·K) and remains stable from −240 °C to +220 °C, so one material can cover acoustic and thermal duty in the same assembly.
Can it be cut or shaped to a drawing?
Yes. We supply flat sheet, wedge, pyramid, egg-crate and ceiling formats, as well as die-cut parts and laminates faced with foil, film, fabric or a barrier layer.
Does it contain respirable fibres?
No. Melamine foam is a fibre-free material, so it does not carry the handling and containment requirements associated with mineral fibre insulation.
Do you hold fire and safety approvals?
The material is UL94 V-0 rated and holds a UL Recognized Component yellow card (File No. E540769 — grey FT-MF sheet, V-0 at 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm minimum thickness), with ASTM E84 Class A surface burning characteristics. Formaldehyde emission is not detected. Test reports and shareable certificates are listed on our certificates page.
Get an acoustic quotation
Send the surface you are treating, the frequency range that matters and the fire class the project requires, and you will get a factory-direct recommendation on thickness, density and format. If you would rather send drawings and a full brief, use the full inquiry form.