Use of shredded textile waste as material for sound absorption

The issue of textile waste is a global concern, and Latvia, like many other countries, faces challenges related to the generation and management of textile waste. The textile industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution, and the following points highlight the textile waste problem both in Latvia and on a global scale. Shredded textile waste, with its fibrous and porous composition, proves to be an excellent candidate for sound dampening materials. The irregular shapes and fine fibres inherent in shredded textiles create a structure that effectively absorbs sound waves, diminishing echoes and reducing overall noise levels. This inherent soundabsorbing property makes shredded textile waste an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional soundproofing materials. In addition to its acoustic benefits, the utilization of textile waste in sound dampening aligns with the principles of waste reduction and circular economy. The aim of this study is to develop a material with a good sound absorption capacity using textile waste. The textile used in the study was procured from a waste management firm located in North Vidzeme, Latvia. This company specializes in gathering uncontaminated textile waste from local residents. Shredding of textile waste was carried out using industrial shredding equipment. The particle size of the obtained textile fraction was 2×2 cm. Experiments with textile waste started in January 2024 in a laboratory. The created plates were tested for acoustic properties in the laboratory. The maximum sound absorption coefficient of the material obtained was 0.95 at a frequency of 4000 Hz. This is better than for synthetic mineral wool and slightly lower than for rock wool.