Investigation into composites’ thermal conductivity performance from post-industrial textile waste for automotive applications

Abstract

This study evaluates post-industrial textile waste as a sustainable alternative for thermal insulation composites used in automotive applications. Traditional thermal panels offer effective heat resistance but are resource-intensive, leading to environmental concerns. To explore an eco-friendlier approach, various fiber waste-polymer composites were examined for thermal conductivity properties. The objective of this research—to evaluate post-industrial textile waste for high-performance thermal resistance composites in automotive applications—is accomplished through systematic characterization methods. The study employs thermal conductivity measurements, fiber composition analysis, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how these materials perform under various conditions. The modified guarded hot box setup provides an accurate assessment of thermal insulation capabilities, validating the effectiveness of different fiber-polymer composite formulations. Experimental findings indicate that sponge-like fiber composites exhibit a thermal conductivity ( k ) of 0.137 W/m·K, which decreases to 0.067 W/m·K when compressed. When incorporated into polyester matrix composites, the minimum thermal conductivity increases to 0.142 W/m·K. Additionally, flax fiber waste was blended with other fiber types in different ratios, where increased panel density improved thermal conductivity up to 0.164 W/m·K. However, compression significantly reduced k to 0.065 W/m·K. The impact of coating panels with fire-resistant polymer was also tested, showing only minimal influence on thermal conductivity.