Development of aerogel-embedded nonwoven fabrics from recycled fibers for thermal insulation applications

Purpose This research aims to focus on the development of thermal insulation materials through the incorporation of aerogels from sugarcane bagasse into nonwoven fabrics prepared from recycled fibrous waste, such as recycled wool, denim shoddy and recycled cotton. Design/methodology/approach Sugarcane bagasse aerogels were synthesized using polyvinyl alcohol as a binder and freeze-dried to form the final structure. The characterization of the aerogels was then performed. Nonwoven materials made of recycled wool, denim shoddy and cotton were prepared using the carding and needle-punching techniques. These nonwoven composite materials have aerogels embedded using latex adhesives in them. Thermal conductivity testing was used to compare with other available insulation materials. Findings The thermal conductivity of the aerogel-embedded nonwoven fabrics ranged from 33.4 to 41.3 W/m K × 10 −3 , which is comparable to traditional insulation materials. Practical implications Aerogel-embedded nonwoven fabrics offer effective thermal insulation while efficiently utilizing waste resources. Originality/value This paper is novel for incorporating sugarcane bagasse aerogels combined with recycled textile fibers that gave a novel, thermal insulation material from natural resources in relation to conventional materials in comparison.