Heavy upholstery foam absorption qualities

[ndelonas]

I have a fair amount of firm foam left over from a sofa reupholstering project. I was going to discard it, but wondered if it's any good at absorbing sound. I could stuff it in a void somewhere if it is. I can't find anything on firm upholstery-cushion-foam sound absorption. It's 5" thick and extra firm -- actually a bit too firm. My sofa isn't so comfy any more. :-/

Anybody know? It's not a big deal, but it was nearly $16 a foot, so I hesitate to throw it out. It'd be nice to find some use for it, however small.

No biggie if it's not useful though.

[Soundman2020]

I have a fair amount of firm foam left over from a sofa reupholstering project.

It probably isn't much use acoustically. Upholstery foam is likely to be closed-cell, and what you need for acoustics is open-cell foam. Also, if it is as hard as you say, then that probably isn't too good acoustically either.

One quick test: can you blow through it? If you hold a piece up to your mouth, can you breath of blow through it easily, with resistance, or not at all?

- Stuart -

[ndelonas]

I have a fair amount of firm foam left over from a sofa reupholstering project.

It probably isn't much use acoustically. Upholstery foam is likely to be closed-cell, and what you need for acoustics is open-cell foam. Also, if it is as hard as you say, then that probably isn't too good acoustically either.

One quick test: can you blow through it? If you hold a piece up to your mouth, can you breath of blow through it easily, with resistance, or not at all?

- Stuart -

I can blow through it with resistance.

-- Nick

[Soundman2020]

Mmmm.... It's hard to say, but my guess would be that it isn't a lot of use, acoustically. Maybe you could contact the manufacturer, and ask if they have an data on the acoustic properties of the foam? The most important one would be gas flow resistivity: If they tested that and have a number, then that would be useful.


- Stuart -

[ndelonas]

Mmmm.... It's hard to say, but my guess would be that it isn't a lot of use, acoustically. Maybe you could contact the manufacturer, and ask if they have an data on the acoustic properties of the foam? The most important one would be gas flow resistivity: If they tested that and have a number, then that would be useful.


- Stuart -

Oh, that's okay. It's not that big a deal.

Thanks for the selfless helpfulness Stuart, as usual.