LG Produces High-Quality Sound Insulator
By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter
LG Chem, the country’s No. 1 chemical company, said Wednesday that it has developed a high-quality sound insulation material to be used between floors of apartment houses and obtained a certificate of authorization from the Korea National Housing Corporation (KNHC).
LG Chem said the new product could absorb the sound of not only lightweight objects but also heavyweight objects. ``LG Sound Insulator 145’’ posted a noise level of 38 decibel (dB) in tests of the sound of a crashing heavyweight object.
Standard criteria of the state-run housing company requires sound insulation material to absorb noises to a level below 43 dB in crash sound tests of a lightweight object and 40 dB in those of a heavyweight object in order get first-grade authorization.
LG Chem officials said that the 38 dB noise level of its new product means a situation under which people on the lower floor could sleep soundly or focus on work or study even if children are hopping and jumping or moving chairs on the floor above.
Placed in between mortar and other materials such as wooden floors or laminated paper, the 45-millimeter-thick, sponge-like material also acts as a heat insulator as well as sound insulator, according to the company.
Sound insulators of other companies, which also acquired the first-grade authorization, could not be used in construction of apartments since they were 60 to 80 millimeters thick, according to LG Chem Vice President Han Myeong-ho.
``So, our new product will be the first to be used,’’ he said. ``We believe that the LG Sound Insulator 145 will raise the quality of life in the country.’’
LG Chem expects that the country’s sound insulator market will expand from the current 100 billion won (roughly $108 million) to over 400 billion won in 2012. ``We aim to get more than one-fourth of the market share by then,’’ said a company spokesman.