Abstract

Textile waste represents a growing environmental challenge, while also offering opportunities for material recovery and the development of higher-value recycled products. This study investigated the potential of post-consumer textile waste for the production of sound-absorbing acoustic panels. Five textile fiber compositions were evaluated: cotton, polyester, wool, linen, and a mixed blend consisting of 50% polyester, 30% cotton, 10% wool, 5% linen, and 5% other fibers. The panels were produced using a biopolymer binder and tested using an AFD 1000 impedance tube. The measurement software generated frequency-resolved sound absorption data from 6.25 to 6393.75 Hz at 6.25 Hz intervals; however, only the validated frequency range of 100–4000 Hz was included in the analysis. Three cylindrical specimens with a diameter of 40 mm were prepared from each material type. Sound absorption coefficients were analyzed across low- (100–250 Hz), mid- (250–1000 Hz), and high-frequency (1000–4000 Hz) ranges, and statistical differences between materials were assessed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD post hoc test. The results showed no statistically significant differences between fiber types at low frequencies. In contrast, significant differences were observed in the mid- and high-frequency ranges. Cotton achieved the highest mean absorption coefficient in the mid-frequency range (α = 0.747), while polyester and wool performed best at high frequencies, with mean absorption coefficients of 0.913 and 0.850, respectively. Polyester showed the highest overall acoustic performance across the analyzed frequency range, with a mean absorption coefficient of α = 0.824. These findings demonstrate that post-consumer textile waste can be upcycled into functional acoustic materials, supporting circular economy principles and offering a potential alternative to conventional mineral-based sound absorbers in interior and construction applications.

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