ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT CHART

I got this chart off the web and it gives you an idea of how the different materials absorb sound at different frequencies. Remember that full absorption is 1 whilst full reflection is 0

Absorption coefficients of common building materials and finishes

Floor materials carpet Concrete (unpainted, rough finish) Concrete (sealed or painted) Marble or glazed tile Vinyl tile or linoleum on concrete Wood parquet on concrete Wood flooring on joists Seating materials Benches (wooden, empty) Benches (wooden, 2/3 occupied) Benches (wooden, fully occupied) Benches (cushioned seats and backs, empty) Benches (cushioned seats and backs, 2/3 occupied) Benches (cushioned seats and backs, fully occupied) Theater seats (wood, empty) Theater seats (wood, 2/3 occupied) Theater seats (wood, fully occupied) Seats (fabric-upholsterd, empty) Seats (fabric-upholsterd, fully occupied) 125 Hz 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.04 0.15 125 Hz 0.1 0.37 0.5 0.32 0.44 0.5 0.03 0.34 0.5 0.49 0.6 250 Hz 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.04 0.11 250 Hz 0.09 0.4 0.56 0.4 0.56 0.64 0.04 0.21 0.3 0.66 0.74 500 Hz 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.07 0.1 500 Hz 0.08 0.47 0.66 0.42 0.65 0.76 0.05 0.28 0.4 0.8 0.88 1 kHz 0.15 0.06 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.06 0.07 1 kHz 0.08 0.53 0.76 0.44 0.72 0.86 0.07 0.53 0.76 0.88 0.96 2 kHz 0.25 0.08 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.06 0.06 2 kHz 0.08 0.56 0.8 0.43 0.72 0.86 0.08 0.56 0.8 0.82 0.93 4 kHz 0.45 0.1 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.07 0.07 4 kHz 0.08 0.53 0.76 0.48 0.67 0.76 0.08 0.53 0.76 0.7 0.85

RT60 relates to intelligibility. Diffractors reduce pronounced reflection by breaking up the sound wave before reflecting it back. This does not reduce reverberant energy, but does reduce echo spikes that may otherwise exceed -60db of direct, thus lowering RT60 and improving intelligibilty, but not necessarily improving the listening environment for music.
Absorption coefficient - - for some common materials can be found in the table below:

Material

Sound Absorption Coefficient -0.01 - 0.03 0.02 - 0.05 0.01 - 0.02 0.01 - 0.02 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 - 0.2 0.3 - 0.4

Plaster walls Unpainted brickwork Painted brickwork 3 mm plywood panel 6 mm cork sheet 6 mm porous rubber sheet 12 mm fiberboard on battens 25 mm wood wool cement on battens 50 mm slag wool or glass silk 12 mm acoustic belt Hardwood 25 mm sprayed asbestos

0.6 - 0.07

0.8 - 0.9 0.5 - 0.5 0.3 0.6 - 0.7

100 mm mineral wool Persons, each Acoustic tiles

0.65 2.0 - 5.0 0.4 - 0.8

Note! The absorption coefficient varies with the frequency of sound.