Thermal Acoustic Insulation

Although it’s not always visible on aircraft, thermal acoustic insulation is essential to keep passengers comfortable and safe. Designing products to minimize the transmission of thermal extremes, structural vibrations, and reducing the overall in-flight noises requires and an understanding of different insulation materials.

Thermal acoustic insulation is crucial to aerospace, military, and many other industrial applications. Therefore, working with a knowledgeable textile company on your insulation needs is necessary to ensure high-quality results that exceed your expectations. At Tex Tech, our team has created thermal acoustic insulation solutions for demanding applications by custom-designing heat and sound-reducing products that meet your specifications.

Overview of Thermal Acoustic Insulation

Thermal acoustic insulation is used in a wide range of industries to reduce heat and noise for equipment, vehicles, or structures. Tex-Tech is a global leader in manufacturing high-performance specialty textiles found in insulation, with aircraft and aerospace being two of our most widely served industries.
  • Analytical Capabilities

    Analytical Capabilities

    By using our extensive analytical capabilities to design and manufacture materials used for thermal and acoustic protection in the aviation industry, we have positioned ourselves as a leader in OEM acoustic insulations. Tex-Tech’s material scientists offer science-based solutions to develop thermal acoustic insulation for aircraft cabins with the right balance of lightweight materials that effectively reduce noise and vibration while withstanding extreme flight temperatures. OEMs of commercial and private jet aircraft prefer Tex-Tech as their material supplier for thermal acoustic insulations.

  • Custom Designed Materials

    Custom Designed Materials

    Our custom-designed materials use unique fiber blends to address specific sound reduction or burn-resistance challenges in the most demanding applications. The lightweight materials are durable while providing the necessary protection from flame, heat, and cold. Our engineers create the ideal solutions for your thermal and acoustic insulation needs by combining unique fiber blends to achieve the best balance of performance and weight.

    Some aerospace industry thermal acoustic insulation solutions we provide, with most products holding Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), include:

    • Seat fire-blocking
    • Carpet underlayment that provides flame resistance and sound-absorbing protection for passenger comfort
    • Moisture-absorbent materials used to protect the airframe
    • Fuselage materials that help preserve the airframe Crew Rest Insulation Materials
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How Thermal Acoustic Insulation Works

Since the second law of thermodynamics states that heat always flows in the direction of the lower-temperature object, thermal acoustic insulation reduces heat transfer between objects with varying temperatures. Therefore, engineers must consider an insulator’s thermal conductivity to develop insulation that effectively conducts heat at ideal rates for all components. Another consideration is the three ways heat is transferred among objects: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction transfers via direct contact, convection flows through the air, and radiated heat is transferred via infrared waves. Different thermal insulation materials are required to effectively and efficiently address the associated heat source.
Similar to thermal insulation, acoustic insulation reduces the vibrations that pass through an object, which creates noise. The insulation will absorb, transmit, or redirect the sound waves to dampen undesired sound. Therefore, thermal and acoustic insulation work together to keep extreme temperatures regulated on an aircraft and provide cabin sound dampening.
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Materials Used to Create Thermal Acoustic Insulation

At Tex Tech, we use a wide range of materials to create our thermal acoustic insulation solutions. These materials are blends of flame-retardant fibers that are combined to create a lofty, nonwoven fabric. These fabrics can be used by themselves or they can be combined into blanket systems.

Our Materials Include:

Meta-Aramids

These semi-crystalline fibers are popular because of their resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and extreme temperatures up to 400 °F. Examples include Conex and Nomex.

Para-Aramids

These more rigid crystalline fibers have fixed, longitudinally aligned polymer chains. They feature high durability and strength, and can function at temperatures up to 446 °F. Examples include Twaron and Kevlar.

Polyphenylene Sulfides (PPS)

These high-performance engineering-grade thermoplastics offer chemical resistance, durability, and strength. They can resist temperatures up to 375 °F.

Oxidized Polyacrylonitrile (OPAN) materials

These semi-crystalline thermoplastics can operate well in temperatures up to 450 °F; however, they suffer degradation rather than melting when exposed to higher temperatures.

Silica

These fibers provide excellent high temperature stability, low thermal conductivity, are resistant to chemical agents, and are incombustible while maintaining good flexibility. They can withstand temperatures in excess of 1,800 °F.

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Industry Applications for Thermal Acoustic Insulation

Many commercial, industrial, construction industries and military applications use thermal acoustic insulation to reduce heat and sound. For example, manufacturing and processing facilities use thermal acoustic insulation for machine enclosures, pipes, and valves. To meet strict guidelines, the floors, doors, side panels, and engine bays of equipment and vehicles use thermal and acoustic materials for passenger safety and comfort. In construction, adding fire-resistant capabilities, such as fire barriers and fire-safe doors, allows for more energy-efficient and ecological structures.
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How Thermal Acoustic Insulation Works

Contact Tex Tech for
Innovative Thermal Acoustic Insulation Solutions

When choosing aerospace insulation or thermal acoustic insulation solutions for any application, it’s necessary to determine the best type for the most effective and efficient results. Tex Tech’s years of industry experience and extensive knowledge of different insulation materials allow us to create thermal acoustic insulation to meet strict tolerances while aligning with all FAA regulations. Our custom-tailored thermal acoustic insulation products will ensure you receive products that meet individual requirements to your specifications. Contact us to request a quote for your custom insulation solution, or use the contact information below.