Sound barrier

Abstract

A sound barrier for reducing noise is provided. The sound barrier may include at least one of a polyethylene, a thermoplastic, a thermoset, an elastomer, and a combination thereof.

1 . A sound barrier for reducing noise, the sound barrier comprising: 
 an outer shell comprising at least one of a polyethylene, a thermoplastic, a thermoset, an elastomer, and a combination thereof; and    a void defined therein, the void being at least partially filled with at least one of a sound-absorbing material, a shock-absorbing material and combination thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The sound barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises a thermoplastic and the thermoplastic comprises at least one of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene-terepthalate (PET), a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), an unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plasticized polyvinyl chloride (pPVC), a polypropylene (PP), a polyamide (PA), and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The sound barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises a thermoset and the thermoset comprises at least one of a phenolic, melamine, unsaturated polyester, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The sound barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises an elastomer and the elastomer comprises at least one of silicone rubber, natural rubber, polybutadiene, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The sound barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell further comprises a UV stabilizer.  
     
     
         6 . The sound barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the void is at least partially filled with a sound-absorbing material and the sound-absorbing material comprises at least one of a polyethylene, a thermoplastic, a thermoset, an elastomer, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The sound barrier of  claim 6 , wherein the void is at least partially filled with a sound-absorbing material and the sound-absorbing material comprises at least one of ground tire, gravel, sand, EPS foam, recycled carpet and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The sound barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises at least one of low-density polyethylene, linear-low polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a sound barrier, the method comprising: 
 molding at least one of a polyethylene, a thermoplastic, a thermoset, an elastomer, and a combination thereof to form a sound barrier having an outer shell and a void defined therein; and    at least partially filling the void with a sound absorbing material.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the molding comprises at least one of rotational molding, blow molding, thermoforming, injection molding, co-injection molding, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the molding comprises rotational molding.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sound barrier comprises a thermoplastic and the thermoplastic comprises at least one of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene-terepthalate (PET), a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), an unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plasticized polyvinyl chloride (pPVC), a polypropylene (PP), a polyamide (PA), and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sound barrier comprises a thermoset and the thermoset comprises at least one of a phenolic, melamine, unsaturated polyester, and combination thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sound barrier comprises an elastomer and the elastomer comprises at least one of silicone rubber, natural rubber, polybutadiene, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sound barrier further comprises a UV stabilizer.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the void is at least partially filled with at least one of a polyethylene, a thermoplastic, a thermoset, an elastomer, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the void is at least partially filled with at least one of ground tire, gravel, sand, EPS foam, recycled carpet and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the outer shell comprises at least one of low-density polyethylene, linear-low polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the barrier reduces noise by at least about 5 dB in an area adjacent a noisy area when the sound barrier is placed therebetween.  
     
     
         20 . A sound barrier for reducing noise, the sound barrier comprising at least one of a polyethylene, thermoplastic, a thermoset, an elastomer, and a combination thereof, and reducing noise by at least about 5 dB in an area adjacent a noisy area when the sound barrier is placed therebetween.