Assembly for protecting acoustic device

A method of manufacturing an assembly (1) for protecting an acoustic device, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) membrane (3) having a first side (5) and a second side (6) opposite the first side (5), providing a first polymeric substrate (2) on only a portion of the first side (5) of the ePTFE membrane (3), the first polymeric substrate (2) being at least partially transmissive for laser light of a predetermined wavelength, and providing a second polymeric substrate (4) on only a portion of the second side (6) of the ePTFE membrane (3) opposite the first polymeric substrate (2), joining the ePTFE membrane (3) to the first and second polymeric substrates (2, 4) by laser transmission welding by applying a laser beam of the predetermined wavelength through the first polymeric substrate (2) towards the second polymeric substrate (4), thereby creating first and second laser weld joints (9, 10) on the first side (5) of the ePTFE membrane (3) with the first polymeric substrate (2) and on the second side (6) of the ePTFE membrane (3) with the second polymeric substrate (4), respectively;
• wherein one of the first side (5) of the ePTFE membrane (3) or the second side (6) of the ePTFE membrane (3) is at least partially absorbent for the laser light of the predetermined wavelength and wherein a respective other side of the first side (5) of the ePTFE membrane (3) or the second side (6) of the ePTFE membrane (3) is at least partially transmissive for the laser light of the predetermined wavelength;
• and
• wherein the membrane (3) further comprises a gradient, wherein the gradient is disposed between the first side (5) of the membrane (3) and the second side (6) of the membrane (3), and wherein the gradient is configured to divide laser energy between the first side (5) of the membrane (3) and the second side (6) of the membrane (3) when the laser energy is absorbed within the membrane (3).