Sound-absorbing foam is designed to reduce the reflection of sound waves within a space, which helps to minimize echoes and reverberations. It does this by converting sound energy into heat through various mechanisms such as friction and vibration damping. However, sound-absorbing foam does not provide significant sound insulation or blockage for sound waves that are attempting to travel through it into the next room.
The effectiveness of sound absorption materials, such as foam, depends on their structure and composition. Foam typically consists of open-cell or porous materials that allow sound waves to penetrate and travel through them. As sound waves encounter the foam, they enter the pores and undergo repeated reflections and interactions within the foam structure. This process dissipates the sound energy and reduces the intensity of the reflected sound waves within the same room. Consequently, the overall acoustic environment becomes quieter.
However, when sound waves encounter foam and attempt to travel through it to the next room, the foam's porous structure allows the waves to pass relatively unimpeded. The foam's primary function is to absorb sound within the same space, not to block or isolate sound transmission between different spaces. To effectively block sound transmission between rooms, soundproofing techniques involving dense and solid materials, such as mass-loaded vinyl, acoustic barriers, or double walls with insulation, are typically used. These materials are designed to impede the transmission of sound waves by reflecting, absorbing, or isolating them, thereby providing better sound insulation and preventing sound leakage between rooms.