New Swedish screw promises quieter homes and better sleep

Sounds coming from the neighbouring apartment, the noise of passing cars, or the sound of a lawn mower – these are things that prevent many of us from getting a peaceful sleep. The end of these problems might come from an invention in Sweden based on a spring. It has the potential to revolutionize construction.

Håkan Wernersson from the Department of Materials Science and Applied Mathematics at Malmo University, together with his team, has created a screw that neutralizes noise. This innovation could bring many changes to construction, allowing the reduction of incoming sound levels by half and eliminating specific problems associated with insufficient acoustic insulation. Laboratory tests have shown that the invention can reduce noise by 10 decibels, which means reducing the recorded sound by half compared to standard screws.

It is recommended to use this type of screw when mounting drywall panels to walls. This way, an additional layer with insulating properties is no longer needed. This allows us to save space in the room by reducing the thickness of the materials used. It's an excellent solution, especially for tiny houses or apartments.

Additionally, these sound-absorbing screws from Sweden allow for the attachment of drywall panels to wooden elements on the wall. The springs embedded in them ensure that sound waves, transmitted through walls and wooden posts, are diffused by the screws so people in the room do not hear the noise.

The business model for this invention is to license the rights to produce and sell the screws to companies. Wernersson and his collaborator, Raimo Issalem, are looking for more companies willing to test the product on a larger scale. Conducting more pilot projects will allow verifying how the screws perform in everyday use and how they can be improved.