Revolutionizing thermal management : Utilizing textile waste for transformative pipe insulation as an alternative to conventional materials

Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Détails bibliographiques
Publié dans:Waste management (New York, N.Y.). - 1999. - 205(2025) vom: 01. Aug., Seite 114975
Auteur principal: Jin, Dongchan (Auteur)
Autres auteurs: Kim, Young Uk, Kim, Sumin
Format: Article en ligne
Langue:English
Publié: 2025
Accès à la collection:Waste management (New York, N.Y.)
Sujets:Journal Article Clothing waste Heat loss Pipe insulation Thermal performance Upcycling material
Description
Résumé:Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The comparative thermal performance of recycling versus conventional insulation in hot-water piping systems was explored, focusing on dynamic thermal behaviours and resilience under freeze-thaw conditions. Unsorted clothing waste composed of natural and synthetic fibers was mechanically processed and thermally compressed to fabricate two types of specimens: flat panels for testing and cylindrical sleeves for pipe applications. Using the fabricated insulation specimens, direct installation experiments were conducted on pipes under controlled conditions replicating real-world environments, including different temperatures (40, 60, and 80 °C). Advanced thermal imaging and data revealed that recycling insulation provides a thermal performance comparable to that of general insulation, effectively reducing heat loss and mitigating thermal fluctuations. Although the recycled insulation material exhibited a slightly higher thermal conductivity than the benchmark high-performance insulation, it still demonstrated excellent efficiency and is highly suitable for practical applications. The recycling insulation behaviour was further examined under winter cooling scenarios, confirming its potential as a sustainable alternative to traditional insulation materials. These findings emphasize the feasibility of utilizing recycled fiber insulation as an eco-friendly and effective alternative for building energy efficiency. Furthermore, they demonstrate that recycled clothing waste can be transformed into sustainable high-performance pipe insulation, thereby reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution. This study offers a novel approach for upcycling textile waste, aligning with global efforts toward sustainable construction and circular economic practices
Description:Date Completed 10.08.2025
Date Revised 10.08.2025
published: Print-Electronic
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1879-2456
DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2025.114975