A lot of people wonder how a simple layer of Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound is so effective at dissipating noise. To understand the science behind the compound you need to understand a little about the energy of sound waves and how they travel.
Noise travels through the air like a wave or an airborne vibration. When these waves hit a ceiling or wall, the vibrations will pass through the structure and exit through the other side as sound again. That is, unless the structure is damped.
Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound has a unique polymeric formula that converts the mechanical energy from sound waves into small amounts of heat. When the compound is sandwiched between two rigid layers of material (like drywall), it forms a damping system. So, when sound waves pass through the structure, the energy is dissipated in the form of heat.
The result is dramatic - just one layer of Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound in between two sheets of drywall can eliminate up to 90 percent of noise, even at low frequencies. The diagram above illustrates how this damping system works to convert sound energy into heat and provide efficient noise-proofing.