Eco-friendly composite materials from waste sugarcane bagasse and chicken feathers fibers for thermal and sound insulation applications

The pursuit of sustainable alternatives to synthetic fiber composites has increased interest in natural fibers due to their eco-friendliness and functional performance. This study presents the fabrication and evaluation of hybrid composites using chicken feather fibers (CFF) and sugarcane bagasse fibers (SBF) for thermal insulation and sound absorption applications. Six composite configurations were developed by combining four hybrid fiber ratios (70%/30%, 40%/60%, 30%/%70, 60%/40% CFF/SBF) and two single-fiber systems (100% CFF and 100% SBF) with a 65% polyurethane foam matrix. Mechanical properties were assessed following ASTM standards, and morphological analysis via SEM provided insights into fiber dispersion, interfacial bonding, and fracture mechanisms. Among the samples, the 70% CFF/30% SBF composite demonstrated the best thermal insulation, while the 100% SBF composite achieved the highest sound absorption coefficient (0.81). These findings underscore the potential of CFF–SBF hybrid composites as sustainable materials with balanced thermal, acoustic, and mechanical properties, suitable for use in automotive interiors, building insulation, and acoustic panels. Composites with a greater content of chicken feather fibers showed enhanced thermal insulation properties, while those composed solely of bagasse fibers exhibited better acoustic absorption. The mechanical performance of all hybrid configurations was comparable to that of synthetic fiber composites, indicating their suitability for sustainable thermal and sound insulation solutions.