Sound absorbing laminates

In a process for forming a sound absorbing laminate wherein a web of nonwoven fibers is bonded to a sound absorbing substrate by the application of pressure and heat, the improvement which comprises:

• (a) coating said web of nonwoven fibers with an aqueous polymer emulsion, wherein the polymer of the aqueous polymer emulsion contains emulsion polymerized units of vinyl acetate and ethylene, said polymer having:
• (i) a crystalline melting point ranging from 35 to 110° C. measured at a heat rate of 20° C. per minute;
• and,
• (ii) a tensile storage modulus of at least 1×104 dynes/cm2 at a temperature of 115° C. as measured at 6.28 rad/sec;
• (b) drying the coated nonwoven web of fibers thereby forming a coated and dried nonwoven web;
• (c) placing the coated and dried nonwoven web in contact with a sound absorbing substrate thereby forming a laminate;
• and,
• (d) placing the laminate in a mold and applying sufficient pressure and temperature to bond the coated and dried web of nonwoven fibers to said sound absorbing substrate.