Upcycling Post-Consumer Textile Waste into Multifunctional Acoustic and Thermal Insulation Materials for Buildings
The construction industry is increasingly required to adopt sustainable materials as buildings grow in scale, complexity, and environmental impact. Simultaneously, post-consumer clothing waste has become one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams worldwide. Due to its heterogeneous composition and low biodegradability, textile waste poses significant environmental challenges and is often underutilized in recycling systems. This study investigates the architectural potential of unsorted clothing waste as a scalable resource for developing multifunctional interior materials capable of providing both acoustic control and thermal insulation in building environments.
Material Processing and Fabrication Method
A simplified thermo-mechanical processing technique was developed to convert heterogeneous textile waste into fiber-based insulation panels. The process eliminates the need for chemical additives or prior sorting of materials, making it more feasible for large-scale waste recycling applications. Through controlled compression and thermal bonding, the textile fibers were consolidated into structural panels suitable for interior building use. This manufacturing approach emphasizes resource efficiency and supports circular material flows in the construction sector.
Microstructural Characteristics and Porosity
Microstructural analysis revealed that the fabricated panels exhibit a highly porous internal structure, with porosity levels exceeding 85%. This interconnected pore network plays a crucial role in enhancing both acoustic and thermal performance. The porous structure enables efficient air trapping, which reduces heat transfer while simultaneously dissipating sound waves through friction and scattering within the fiber matrix.
Acoustic Performance Evaluation
Acoustic performance was evaluated using impedance tube testing to measure sound absorption characteristics. The results showed an average sound absorption coefficient exceeding 0.8 in the mid- to high-frequency range, indicating strong acoustic attenuation properties. These findings demonstrate that textile-based insulation panels can effectively reduce noise levels and improve acoustic comfort in indoor environments, particularly in spaces with high reverberation potential.
Thermal Insulation Performance
Thermal performance was assessed using heat flow meter measurements to determine thermal conductivity values. The results confirmed that the textile insulation panels exhibit thermal conductivity levels comparable to conventional fiber-based insulation materials. This indicates that recycled textile panels can contribute to maintaining indoor thermal comfort while reducing heating and cooling energy demands.
Architectural Application and Indoor Environmental Benefits
The practical application of the panels was evaluated through acoustic simulations in a full-scale café environment using the ODEON simulation platform. Increasing the panel coverage area significantly improved room acoustic conditions by reducing reverberation time and enhancing speech intelligibility. These results highlight the potential of upcycled textile insulation panels as multifunctional building materials that support circular construction practices while simultaneously improving indoor environmental quality in large-scale interior spaces.
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