Building materials, compositions, and methods

1. A sound dampening material, comprising:

a dampening layer which comprises a plaster and a viscoelastic polymer,

wherein the viscoelastic polymer comprises polyvinyl butyral.

2. The sound dampening material of claim 1 , wherein the dampening layer comprises polyvinyl butyral in an amount from about 0.5 wt. % to about 50 wt. %.

3. The sound dampening material of claim 1 , wherein the dampening layer comprises polyvinyl butyral in an amount from about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. %.

4. A sound dampening material, comprising:

a dampening layer which comprises a plaster and a viscoelastic polymer,

wherein the dampening layer further comprises a high atomic weight material, a high molecular density material, or a combination thereof.

5. The sound dampening material of claim 4 , wherein the high atomic weight material or the high molecular density material is selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, calcium silicate, zinc oxide, lead, zirconium dioxide, carbonyl iron powders, aluminum powder, iron powder, stainless steel powder, copper powder, bismuth powder, tungsten powder, lead powder, bismuth oxide powder, niobium powder, tantalum powder, molybdenum powder, Borated HDPE, fly ash class C, and any combination thereof.

6. A sound dampening material, comprising:

a dampening layer which comprises a plaster, a barium salt, and a viscoelastic polymer.

7. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the viscoelastic polymer comprises polyvinyl butyral.

8. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the viscoelastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyral, acrylics, polyurethanes, vinyl ethers, ethylene vinyl acetates, styrene block copolymers, polyolefin copolymers, butyl rubber, natural rubber, silicones, and nitriles.

9. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the barium salt comprises barium sulfate.

10. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the barium salt is selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, barium oxide, barium chloride, barium fluoride, barium sulfide, barium carbonate, barium peroxide, barium hydride, and combinations thereof.

11. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the dampening layer further comprises a high atomic weight material, a high molecular density material, or a combination thereof.

12. The sound dampening material of claim 11 , wherein the high atomic weight material or the high molecular density material is selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, calcium silicate, zinc oxide, lead, zirconium dioxide, carbonyl iron powders, aluminum powder, iron powder, stainless steel powder, copper powder, bismuth powder, tungsten powder, lead powder, bismuth oxide powder, niobium powder, tantalum powder, molybdenum powder, Borated HDPE, fly ash class C, and any combination thereof.

13. The sound dampening material of claim 7 , wherein the dampening layer comprises polyvinyl butyral in an amount from about 0.5 wt. % to about 50 wt. %.

14. The sound dampening material of claim 7 , wherein the dampening layer comprises polyvinyl butyral in an amount from about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. %.

15. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the dampening layer comprises barium salt in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 70 wt. %.

16. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the dampening layer comprises barium salt in an amount from about 35 wt. % to about 55 wt. %.

17. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the plaster comprises alpha hemihydrate gypsum, beta hemihydrate gypsum, fine grind molding plaster, fly ash type C, Type I Portland cement, Type II Portland cement, dispersant, retarder, defoamer, boric acid, landplaster, or any combination thereof.

18. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the dampening layer has an internal friction of at least 0.004.

19. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the material has an Impact Insulation Class rating of 45 or greater.

20. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the dampening layer has a thickness of at least 0.03 inch.

21. The sound dampening material of claim 6 , wherein the plaster comprises a sanded gypsum.

22. The sound dampening material of claim 21 , wherein the sanded gypsum comprises sand selected from the group consisting of washed sands, masonry sands, plaster sands, and any combination thereof.

23. A method of making a sound dampening material, comprising:

providing a plaster and a viscoelastic polymer mixture;

combining the mixture with water to form a slurry;

applying the slurry to a surface;

setting the slurry to form a dampening layer,

wherein the viscoelastic polymer comprises polyvinyl butyral.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein polyvinyl butyral is present in the mixture in an amount from about 0.5 wt. % to about 50 wt. %.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein polyvinyl butyral is present in the mixture in an amount from about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. %.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the polyvinyl butyral is in particulate form.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the polyvinyl butyral has an average particle size of about 100 nanometer to about 1000 microns.

28. A method of making a sound dampening material, comprising:

providing a plaster and a viscoelastic polymer mixture;

combining the mixture with water to form a slurry;

applying the slurry to a surface;

setting the slurry to form a dampening layer,

wherein the mixture comprises a high atomic weight material, a high molecular density material, or a combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the high atomic weight material or the high molecular density material is selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate, calcium silicate, zinc oxide, lead, zirconium dioxide, carbonyl iron powders, aluminum powder, iron powder, stainless steel powder, copper powder, bismuth powder, tungsten powder, lead powder, bismuth oxide powder, niobium powder, tantalum powder, molybdenum powder, Borated HDPE, fly ash class C, and any combination thereof.

30. A method of making a sound dampening material, comprising:

providing a plaster and a viscoelastic polymer mixture;

combining the mixture with water to form a slurry;

applying the slurry to a surface;

setting the slurry to form a dampening layer;

applying a plaster underlayment slurry onto an exposed surface of the dampening layer; and

setting the plaster underlayment slurry to form a plaster underlayment.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the dampening layer has a thickness of at least 0.03 inch and the plaster underlayment has a thickness of at least 0.03 inch.

32. A method of making a sound dampening material, comprising:

providing a mixture comprising a plaster, a viscoelastic polymer, and a barium salt;

combining the mixture with water to form a slurry;

applying the slurry to a surface; and

setting the slurry to form a dampening layer.

33. A method of making a sound dampening material, comprising:

combining a viscoelastic polymer dispersion in water and a plaster to form a slurry;

applying the slurry to a surface; and

setting the slurry to form a dampening layer,

wherein the dispersion comprises polyvinyl butyral in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 75 wt. %.

34. A method of making a sound dampening material, comprising:

providing a plaster and barium salt mixture;

combining the mixture and a viscoelastic polymer dispersion in water to form a slurry;

applying the slurry to a surface; and

setting the slurry to form a dampening layer.