Sound absorbing and thermal insulating properties of recycled cotton/polyester selvedge waste chemical bonded nonwovens

This research study reports on acoustics insulation properties of six samples made from recycled Cotton/polyester (PET) selvedge waste for automotive interior applications. The selvedge waste recycled from Cotton/PET fibers has a possible source of raw material that can be measured for sound insulation purposes, but its amounts are limited. While the amounts are limited, selvedge waste recycled cotton fiber was mixed with recycled PET fiber in 50/50, 70/30, 30/70, 60/40, and with 100/0 recycled selvedge cotton and 0/100% recycled selvedge PET mass ratios in the procedure of different-layer nonwoven sheets is prepared with a chemical bonding method. The entire samples were tested for thermal and acoustics insulation according to their physical properties as per the ASTM standard. The sound absorption coefficients (SAC) were measured according to ASTME1050 by an impedance tube method, the SAC over six frequencies 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz were calculated. The result revealed that nonwoven mats that are prepared from recycled/PET/cotton selvedge waste have confirmed more than 70% of the SAC and the recycled nonwoven mats provided the best insulation, sound absorption, moisture absorption, and fiber properties. The recycled selvedge waste cotton/PET nonwoven mats have adequate moisture resistance at high humidity conditions without affecting the insulation and sound-absorbing properties. The reused waste cotton/PET selvedge nonwoven mats have satisfactory moisture resistance at high humidity situations without disturbing the insulation properties.