Aircraft Damping Composites for Cabin Noise & Vibration Control

What Are Aircraft Damping Composites?

Aircraft damping composite materials are engineered multi-layer materials used to reduce unwanted vibration and noise in aircraft structures and interiors. In an aircraft environment, vibration and noise are generated continuously by multiple sources: jet engines, aerodynamic forces acting on the airframe, and the operation of onboard aircraft systems such as HVAC, hydraulics, and avionics. Left uncontrolled, these forces can transmit through panels, floors, walls, and structural components, degrading the cabin experience and adding unwanted acoustic energy to the interior environment.

ADC aircraft damping composite materials work by converting vibrational energy into heat through the composite's internal damping properties. This reduces both mechanically and acoustically induced vibrations before they can radiate as audible noise or cause resonance in aircraft interior structures. The result is a measurable reduction in the noise and vibration passengers and crew are exposed to throughout a flight.

Key Benefits of ADC Aircraft Damping Composites

Aearo Technologies ADC aircraft damping composite materials offer several performance advantages suited to aerospace interior applications:

• Lightweight composite construction: ADC materials are engineered for low surface weight, making them appropriate for weight-sensitive aircraft interior applications where every gram matters.
• Reduction of airborne noise and structural vibration: Creates a measurably quieter cabin environment by targeting noise at its source rather than masking it.
• Shock and impact energy dissipation: ADC aircraft vibration damping composites rapidly dissipate shock and impact energy, which helps protect interior panels and structural components from fatigue and damage over time.
• Improved passenger cabin comfort: By controlling the transmission of noise and vibration through aircraft interior structures, ADC materials contribute directly to a quieter, more comfortable cabin for passengers and crew.
• Multiple thickness and weight configurations: Available in a range of thickness and weight options, ADC materials can be matched to the specific performance requirements of different interior zones and panel configurations.

How Are Aircraft Damping Composites Used in Aircraft Interiors?

Aearo Technologies ADC aircraft damping composite materials have been used across the aerospace industry for more than 30 years in business jet, VIP, and commercial aircraft interior programs. They are used in both new build and refurbishment projects, and their availability in custom-fabricated configurations makes them straightforward to integrate into a wide range of interior assemblies. Common interior applications include:

• Panel damping: Bonded to interior wall, ceiling, and floor panels to suppress resonance and reduce noise radiation into the cabin
• Isolation: Applied between structural components to limit vibration transfer across joints and mounting interfaces
• Impact control: Used in areas subject to repeated mechanical loading to protect interior structures over time

With multiple thickness and weight configurations available, ADC materials can be matched to the specific noise and vibration demands of each zone within an aircraft interior.

Get Aerospace Noise and Vibration Control Materials from Rathbun

Rathbun is a supplier of Aearo Technologies E-A-R® acoustic and vibration control materials, including the full ADC aircraft damping composites line and other damping and isolation materials, for use in aircraft interior applications. As a 3M Preferred Converter, we offer custom fabrication services, including die cutting, kiss cutting, lamination, and slitting, so materials can be supplied ready for installation rather than requiring additional processing on your end.

Whether you are specifying materials for a new aircraft interior program or sourcing for a refurbishment project, Rathbun can help you identify the right ADC material configuration and provide it in the form factor you need.

Browse our full E-A-R® materials offering or contact Rathbun today to discuss your aircraft noise and vibration control requirements.