Resonix Sound Deadening

[Jack the Knife]

https://resonixsoundsolutions.com/independent-testing-data/

I've been extensively researching the different sound deadening options available on the market today. Many old threads around here point to Sound Deadener Showdown as a resource. Unfortunately, they retired in 2019, so all of those links are dead. This company Resonix stepped in to fill the void. So far, they are the only company I've seen that actually backs up their claims with testing. Dynamat somewhat irks me for being mysterious and coy about the actual effects of their product. Above all, they seem to charge a pretty high price just because they can.

Has anyone used this Resonix product before? If not, I might be willing to be the guinea pig.

[GM]

I just found this and they sent me a sample. They have different types.
https://www.carbuilders.com.au/
Their rep in the U.S. is T&J Restoration in Kansas.
https://www.tandjrestorations.com/
I have no relationship with them, and have not used it in a car.
Good luck!

[Jack the Knife]

I just found this and they sent me a sample. They have different types.
https://www.carbuilders.com.au/
Their rep in the U.S. is T&J Restoration in Kansas.
https://www.tandjrestorations.com/
I have no relationship with them, and have not used it in a car.
Good luck!

Thank you, Gary! I'll read about their products.

[Duncan200]

These guys are just up the road from me in Melbourne, let me know if you’d like me to do some reconnaissance on your behalf?

I too have removed all the bitumen from inside my car, so I’ll be looking at a suitable replacement.

Doug

[Dave H]

Shame your not in the UK, this is the bitumin I used from a supplier called woolies trim.co.uk.
Comes in 1.5 x 1 m sheets.

[Jack the Knife]

I've been doing a deep dive in the r-values of typical car insulation. Here is a copy of a post from another forum:

The CLD squares (butyl rubber) weigh 1lb per sq ft. Dynamat Xtreme weighs 0.45lbs per foot. The weight from the ResoNix material is clearly from it being almost twice as thick -- Dynamat Xtreme is 67 mils vs ResoNix at 106 mils. The sound stuff doesn't really have any true heat reducing properties. An r-value isn't even listed on the spec sheet, and some YouTube torch/heat gun tests indicate it doesn't reduce heat transfer whatsoever. Dynaliner, however, is claimed to be their best heat insulator, and also "the best single-layer heat insulator". It is available in three thicknesses -- 0.125", 0.25", 0.5". They give the following for each thickness:

0.125: 0.42ºF * ft²* hr/Btu (0.07K * m² * hr/W)
0.25: 0.83ºF * ft² * hr/Btu (0.15K * m² * hr/W)
0.5: 1.7ºF * ft² * hr/Btu (0.3K * m² * hr/W)

Lizardskin has an r-value closer to 3, according to people's best guesses on the internet. Lizardskin themselves refuses to give an r-value in their FAQ. I looked into that product since I did think it was promising. I know plenty of hot rodders use it. I think it is less effective than Dynamat for noise and next to useless for heat, unless one was to paint the exterior of their vehicle with it. The EPA does not recommend it.

I think there are lots of scams in this world. Lots of hand-waving and woo-woo.

Edit: After some more research, it seems the foam layers in Dynapad are a flexible closed-cell polyurethane foam, which has an r-value of around 6.5 per cubic inch. The thermal conductivity of such a foam is 0.042 W/m*K. That gives me the thermal resistance outputs claimed in the r-value formula above. I was only able to arrive at their numbers by using a low density foam vs a high density foam. I suppose the low density allows for flexibility.

The ResoNix Fiber Mat, which they advertise as having good thermal resistance, has a total r-value given as 7.15. I'd hope so, since it is 45mm thick, or about 1.77". It's r-value per inch should be about 4. An equivalent 45mm layer of the polyurethane foam in Dynapad would be around 6, whereas the r-value of an inch would be about 3.4. Unlike Dynapad, a fibrous material like the ResoNix mat can be compressed. However, I have no doubt that would have an effect on the r-value, as air is an insulation itself.

Another idea is melamine foam. However, the stuff isn't so flexible. Some places carry that, including ResoNix. It has an r-value of 4.16 per inch. Their "Guardian" material is 1.375" thick. 0.125" is MLV and the remaining 1.25" is melamine. So that's 5.2 + 0.55 for a total of about 5.75. If reduced down to an inch, the r-value would be 4.18. Probably a superior material for noise, but it seems the fiber mats are better for heat. What would be critical is understanding how compression (like inside of a door) might effect the r-value of the fiber. However, that isn't so important for many vehicles, since there is a cavity in there that won't compress material.

I am curious about the r-value of the OEM insulation, which I know is inferior garbage, but I just want to know. It seems there's a mix of jute fibers, tar, and probably once a thin layer of foam on the stuff on the floors. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Let's suppose for conversation's sake it is similar to an asphalt shingle, which is about 3/16" and has an r-value of 0.44 per unit. That should be about 2.34 per inch. Garbage only useful for a purist to feel good about his 1965 insulation, who probably doesn't drive his car anyway so it doesn't matter. But I imagine the firewall "insulation" was more for sound than heat. I can't find any discussion anywhere about what the old firewall pads in cars may have been made of.

[Garry]

[quote author=Jack the Knife
lGarbage only useful for a purist to feel good about his 1965 insulation, who probably doesn't drive his car anyway so it doesn't matter.
Unquote

Thats a bit of a throwaway line Jack
90% of members would be in the purist category but they do drive their cars.  🤐

[dirkbalter]

Here is another one for your R & D project, I used that one.

[Jack the Knife]

[quote author=Jack the Knife
lGarbage only useful for a purist to feel good about his 1965 insulation, who probably doesn't drive his car anyway so it doesn't matter.
Unquote

Thats a bit of a throwaway line Jack
90% of members would be in the purist category but they do drive their cars.  🤐

Throwaway is right, because the real punchline is that I don't even drive my car. 

... by the way, the other 4 Pagodas here in town all have antique plates. That says it all...

Here is another one for your R & D project, I used that one.

Thanks Dirk. Looks like this stuff one might achieve a 4db reduction. I'd be careful using it over the firewall or especially the exhaust since it seems to be prone to melting. As we know, weight has a lot to do with noise/vibration reduction. Each square foot of Xmat weighs 12.8oz, or .8lbs and is 62.5 mils thick. To compare with the competition:

3M EDM -- 0.22lbs (also the least effective... without mass and/or numerous layers of things, you won't get any results)
Resonix CLD -- 1lb
Dynamat Xtreme: 0.45lbs
Kilmat -- 0.35lbs or 0.5lbs
Fatmat -- 0.46lbs

And as for thicknesses of the above, which are all butyl based, btw:
3M EDM -- 62 mils
Resonix CLD -- 104 mils
Dynamat Xtreme -- 67 mils
Kilmat -- 50 mils or 80 mils
Fatmat -- 80 mils

If I had to hazard a guess, it is going to be better than the 3M product (though people buy that for weight) and probably as good or better than Dynamat and Kilmat.

[Garry]

Jack where i live, if you don’t have antique plates, or as we call them club plates, you are throwing away money.


Annual club plate registration that includes third party insurance is $120 Aust p.a.  Regular registration is about $800 p.a.

[Cees Klumper]

After some research, like Dirk I also went with the Eastwood Xmat product for my '72 Lancia. Will use it also for the '61 Alfa Romeo.

[Jack the Knife]

Jack where i live, if you don’t have antique plates, or as we call them club plates, you are throwing away money.


Annual club plate registration that includes third party insurance is $120 Aust p.a.  Regular registration is about $800 p.a.

https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/article/veteran-vintage-and-historic-motor-vehicle-registration-tab-overview

Unless I'm reading this wrong, this is exactly what I'm talking about -- limited to 2000-3000km per year. That's not much. Of course, everything regarding old cars is throwing away money, let's be real. But hopefully enjoyable throwing away of money...

After some research, like Dirk I also went with the Eastwood Xmat product for my '72 Lancia. Will use it also for the '61 Alfa Romeo.

Do you like the way it performs? And by the way, did you get any before/after temperature readings of the firewall? I really should have done that before taking everything out. Could get a bare firewall reading when I get everything put back mostly together.

And by the way, way off topic but you might recall my LinkedIn message in re: the seats. I took them apart the other day now that I have some new pads. Unbeknownst to me that 230SL pads are NLA and I was given 280SL pads. I had intended to reuse the covers but, c'est la vie. Not that I would have anyway, because as I was taking it apart, I saw someone had been in there before... and sewed all kinds of stuff to the covers and pads as the covers had stretched out and the pads had deflated. I know we all love a good before-after. Well, check this out, it reminds me of the old "stop smoking" campaigns. You could feel every bit of Nosag through those pads.

[Garry]

Jack.


I live in the state of Victoria. There is no milage limitation but a max 90 days a year. A twice a week is way more than i am driving. In 2019 i drove it around the USA for four months filling in my lo book as we drove.