Why don't original manufacturers use aluminum foil soundproof cotton?
2 Answers
Original manufacturers don't use aluminum foil soundproof cotton to save costs. Here is some knowledge about aluminum foil soundproof cotton: 1. Function: The main function of aluminum foil soundproof cotton is to use aluminum foil to isolate and reflect engine heat, preventing heat conduction to the hood and affecting the hood paint. 2. Introduction: Aluminum foil soundproof cotton has enhanced waterproof performance, and its thermal insulation performance is excellent due to its low thermal conductivity, providing good heat insulation. Excellent thermal insulation is a basic characteristic of rock wool and its products. Under normal temperature conditions (around 25°C), the thermal conductivity of rock wool is usually between 0.03 and 0.047 W/(m·K). The surface materials and insulation materials are non-combustible, fully meeting fire protection requirements. The combustion performance depends on the amount of combustible binder. Rock wool itself is an inorganic mineral fiber and is non-combustible.
I've witnessed many decision-making processes on original production lines, and cost control is absolutely the top priority. Aluminum foil sound insulation material costs two to three times more than ordinary recycled cotton. Using five square meters per car would mean spending hundreds more. On a production line assembling one car per minute, ordinary foam cotton can be machine-pressed in just five seconds, whereas aluminum foil material requires two additional processes. Moreover, automakers have done the math—90% of buyers can't even discern the 5% difference in sound insulation effect. Nowadays, simulation software is used for cabin acoustic design, filling vehicle frame cavities with polyester fiber cotton and laying asphalt-based damping boards on the floor pan, which makes the fuel consumption data per 100 kilometers look better and simplifies quality inspection. In reality, the popularity of aluminum foil cotton in the aftermarket is mainly because modification shops find it profitable—workers can install it quickly, and it looks more premium visually.
