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

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.