Disposable Medical (Isolation) Gowns and Waste Coffee Filters as New Sources of Eco-Friendly Thermal Insulation and Sound Absorption Materials for Buildings

مقال فى مجلة

2026

A large amount of discarded isolation medical gowns and wasted coffee filters end up in
landfills, creating an environmental problem . In this study, we introduce a novel approach
to repurpose such waste by utilizing it to produce insulation materials with excellent
acoustic properties. Loose, bound, and hybrid composite boards were prepared from
discarded gowns and filters . The bound and hybrid boards were made using wood
adhesive resin binders. All necessary tests , including measurements of thermal conductivity,
sound absorption, noise reduction coefficients, thermal stability, mechanical properties,
surface morphology, and moisture content of the raw materials, were reported.
Results showed that the thermal conductivity ranges from 0.038 to 0.070 W/m·K. The
sound absorption coefficient exceeds 0.4 for all composite boards at frequencies above
500 Hz, and the noise reduction coefficient is greater than 0.4. The flexural modulus of the
bound boards ranges from 0.28 to 1.6 MPa. The composites are thermally stable between
298°C and 354°C. The moisture content is 0.5% for loose gowns and 4% for coffee filters.
These results suggest that the developed composites could be used for thermal insulation
and sound absorption in buildings, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based
materials and contributes to environmental preservation.