Ultra-thin ‘moth-wing wallpaper’ can create soundproof homes

ULTRA-THIN wallpaper that mimics moth wings could block out nearly 90 per cent of noise, scientists believe.

Experts at the University of Bristol have discovered that the scales on moth wings are effective sound absorbers, even when placed on an artificial flat surface. The wings have evolved over millions of years to soak up bat radar so the high-frequency pulses cannot bounce back and reveal the moths’ location to their predators.

But researchers were unsure if the effect would remain when on a flat surface. Prof Marc Holderied, of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences, said: “What we needed to know first, was how well these moth scales would perform in front of an acoustically highly reflective surface, such as a wall.

“We also needed to find out how the mechanisms of absorption might change when the scales were interacting with this surface.”

To find out, the team placed small sections of moth wings on an aluminium disc, and found they absorbed as much as 87 per cent of the incoming sound energy, from all directions.

“What is even more impressive is that the wings are doing this whilst being incredibly thin,” said Dr Thomas Neil, lead author of the study.

The experts believe the ability to create ultra-thin sound-absorbing panels has huge implications for the acoustics of buildings and the travel industry.

Now, the team is planning to design and build prototypes.

The sounds absorbed by moth wings are in the ultrasound frequency range, above that which humans can hear, but the team hopes to create a material to work at lower frequencies. Prof Holderied said: “One day it will be possible to adorn the walls of your house with ultra-thin sound-absorbing wallpaper, using a design that copies the mechanisms that give moths their stealth acoustic camouflage.”

The research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society.