This research paper reports a study on thermal and sound insulation samples developed from recycled cotton/polyester (recycled cotton/PET) for construction industry applications. The waste recycled cotton and polyester fiber is a potential source of raw material that can be considered for thermal and sound insulation applications, but its quantities are limited. While the quantities are limited, waste recycled cotton fiber was mixed with recycled/PET fiber in 50/50 proportions in the form of two-layer nonwoven mats with a chemical bonding method. The samples such as cotton (color and white), polyester (color and white), and cotton-polyester blend (color and white) were prepared. All the samples were tested for thermal insulation, sound absorption, moisture absorption, and fiber properties as per the ASTM standard. Also, behaviors of six recycled cotton/polyester nonwoven samples under high humidity conditions were evaluated. The sound absorption coefficients were measured according to ASTM E 1050 by an impedance tube method, the sound absorption coefficient 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 waste have confirmed more than 70% of the sound absorption coefficient and the recycled nonwoven mats provided the best insulation, sound absorption, moisture absorption, and fiber properties. The recycled waste cotton/ polyester nonwoven mats have adequate moisture resistance at high humidity conditions without affecting the insulation and sound-absorbing properties.

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This research paper reports a study on thermal and sound insulation samples developed from garment waste recycled cotton/polyester fiber (recycled cotton/PET) for construction industry applications. In this research work, the piece of clothing waste recycled cotton and polyester fiber is a potential source of raw material for thermal and sound insulation applications, but its quantities are limited. To overcome the above problems, apparel waste recycled cotton fiber was mixed with recycled/PET fiber in 50/50 proportions in the form of two-layer nonwoven mats with chemical bonding methods. The samples such as cotton (color and white), polyester (color and white), and cotton–polyester blend (color and white) were prepared. All the samples were tested for thermal insulation, acoustic, moisture absorption, and fiber properties as per the ASTM Standard. Also, the behavior of the six recycled cotton/polyester nonwoven samples under high humidity conditions was evaluated. The sound absorption coefficients were measured according to ASTM E 1050 by an impedance tube method; the acoustics absorption coefficients over six frequencies of 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz were calculated. The result revealed that recycled/PET/cotton garment waste nonwoven mats were absorbing the sound resistance of more than 70% and the recycled nonwoven mats provided the best insulation, acoustic, moisture absorption, and fiber properties. The recycled pieces of clothing waste cotton/polyester nonwoven mats have adequate moisture resistance at high humidity conditions without affecting the insulation and acoustic properties.

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Water proof fabrics are hydrophobic in nature. Contact angle measurement is a characterization technique used to gauge how well the water proof fabrics designed and developed is useful in preventing seepage of water through fabric surface. The water-proof coated fabric was developed using polyester non-woven fabric made by melt-blown process as base material. Binder made using acrylic polymer was used for preparation of the water-proof coated fabric using layering technique. Different layer configurations like single and double layers was used to develop the non-woven coated fabric. The developed fabrics was subjected to morphological studies using scanning electron microscope. The water proof coated fabrics was also analyzed for its static contact angle measured using rame-hart instrument. The contact angle was measured for both single layer and double layer water proof fabrics at different positions. The contact angle range was reported from 96° - 58° for single layer water proof coated fabrics. However, for double layer water proof coated fabrics the contact angle reported was in the range of 82°-68°. The contact angle changes for different angle of measurements and orientations. The results show that contact angle is not only a function of hydrophobic character of polyester non-woven fabric base material but also depends on the process parameters like number of layers, the thickness of coating, coating technique and the moisture levels that the acrylic polymer binder coating material absorbs the liquid from its surface. The forces acting on the surface of the coating material mainly influences the contact angle of the coated surface. The water repellency increases with the increase in static contact angle.