Coating materials comprising polymeric particles in a geometrically
ordered array are disclosed. The particles can be formed from materials
having different glass transition temperatures; this allows for phase
segregation between areas of different glass transition temperatures
within each particle. Typically, at least 50 percent of the particles
will form a hexagonal array, capable of exhibiting Bragg diffraction.
Because the particles within the array do not coalesce to any appreciable
extent, significant surface area is provided by the present coating
materials. Thus, the present materials have particularly good sound
deadening properties. Substrates coated with the present materials are
also disclosed, as are methods for inhibiting sound transmission through
a substrate using these coatings.