Effect of kapok/polypropylene needle punched nonwoven and chicken feather fiber wadding on thermal insulation applications

Abstract

Thermal resistance of cold-weather clothing is achieved by layering and filling. In this study, kapok/polypropylene blended (70/30, 60/40, and 50/50) needle-punched nonwovens were manufactured with 100 and 200 g/m2 areal density. Chicken feather fibers were used as fillers for developing quilted composite structures (QCS). To produce a QCS, 100 and 200 g/m2 nonwovens were individually used as the top and bottom layers, and the middle layer was filled with chicken feather fibers in 100, 200, 350, 550, 600, and 850 g by weights. The structures were characterized for thermal properties, and it was noted that 70/30 kapok/polypropylene nonwovens in 100 g/m2 set had the highest thermal resistance between 0.5901–0.6461 °C m2/W. Thermal resistance is greatly influenced by kapok, chicken feather fiber quantity in the assembly along with the areal density (1000 g/m2) of the QCS. Results show that the developed QCS has higher thermal insulation and can be used for cold-weather apparel and sleeping bag.