p-ISSN: 1411-8912 e-ISSN: 2714-6251 http://journals.
id/index.
php/sinektika VALORIZATION OF TEXTILE WASTE AND RESIN AS ECO ROSTER MATERIALS
FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Davi Muhammad Fikram
ABSTRACT
Architecture Department Faculty of Engineering Universitas Sebelas Maret davfik30@student.
The construction industry is facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices due to environmental concerns and resource depletion.
This study investigates the use of textile waste as a reinforcing material combined with a resin matrix to develop environmentally friendly roster blocks for building construction applications.
In Indonesia, textile waste production has reached critical levels, with approximately 2.
3 million tons generated annually and projected to increase to 3.
9 million tons by 2030, unless interventions to promote a circular economy are implemented.
This study focuses on transforming post-industrial textile waste into valuable composite materials that can serve as sustainable construction alternatives to conventional building materials.
Through comprehensive material characterization and performance evaluation, this research aims to demonstrate the viability of textile waste and resin composites as viable construction materials while addressing waste management challenges and sustainable building requirements.
The developed composites exhibit promising mechanical properties with potential applications in non-loadbearing structural elements and architectural features.
Johanna Putri Christanto Architecture Department Faculty of Engineering Universitas Sebelas Maret johannaputri86@student.
Muhamad Ridho Alfiansyah Architecture Department Faculty of Engineering Universitas Sebelas Maret alfiansyahridho30@student.
Syafi Pramudito Athallah Ts Architecture Department Faculty of Engineering Universitas Sebelas Maret arch@student.
KEYWORDS: circular economy, composite materials, resin matrix, sustainable construction, textile waste Marina Kurniasari Architecture Department Faculty of Engineering Universitas Sebelas Maret marinakurniasari26@student.
Fauzan Ali Ikhsan Architecture Department Faculty of Engineering Universitas Sebelas Maret fauzan@ft.
History of the manuscript:
Manuscript submitted December 16, 2025 Final manuscript accepted January 17, 2026 Industri konstruksi menghadapi tekanan yang meningkat untuk mengadopsi praktik berkelanjutan karena kekhawatiran lingkungan dan penipisan sumber daya.
Penelitian ini menyelidiki pemanfaatan limbah tekstil sebagai bahan penguat yang dikombinasikan dengan matriks resin untuk mengembangkan blok roster ramah lingkungan bagi aplikasi konstruksi Di Indonesia, produksi limbah tekstil telah mencapai tingkat kritis dengan sekitar 2,3 juta ton yang dihasilkan setiap tahun dan diproyeksikan meningkat menjadi 3,9 juta ton pada tahun 2030 tanpa intervensi ekonomi sirkular.
Penelitian ini berfokus pada transformasi limbah tekstil pasca-industri menjadi material komposit bernilai yang dapat berfungsi sebagai alternatif konstruksi berkelanjutan untuk bahan bangunan konvensional.
Melalui karakterisasi material komprehensif dan evaluasi kinerja, penelitian ini bertujuan mendemonstrasikan kelayakan komposit limbah tekstil dan resin sebagai material konstruksi yang viable sambil mengatasi tantangan pengelolaan limbah dan persyaratan bangunan Komposit yang dikembangkan menunjukkan sifat mekanik yang menjanjikan dengan aplikasi potensial pada elemen struktural non-pemikul beban dan fitur arsitektural.
KATA KUNCI: ekonomi sirkular, material komposit, matriks resin, konstruksi berkelanjutan, limbah tekstil SINEKTIKA Jurnal Arsitektur.
Vol.
23 No.
January 2026 | 124 Davi Muhammad Fikram.
Johanna Putri Christanto.
Muhamad Ridho Alfiansyah.
Syafi Pramudito A Ts.
Marina Kurniasari.
Fauzan Ali Ikhsan
INTRODUCTION
The global construction industry is one of the most resource-intensive approximately 40% of worldwide carbon emissions and consuming nearly 50% of global raw materials.
Within the framework of sustainable architecture, this condition has encouraged a shift toward performancebased and low-embodied-energy building materials, particularly for non-load-bearing architectural Concurrently, the textile industry produces over 92 million tons of waste annually, most of which ends up in landfills or incineration (Burgada et al.
, 2.
In Indonesia, textile waste generation currently reaches 2.
3 million tons per year and is projected to increase by 70% to 3.
9 million tons by 2030 without effective circular economy strategies (AsatuNews, 2024.
Okezone, 2.
Despite its significant economic contributionAiemploying 3.
million workers and contributing 5.
84% to national GDPAithe textile sector has become the countryAos largest industrial waste generator, prompting government-led (DetikFinance, 2024.
Kementerian Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif, 2.
From a building material science perspective, composite materials reinforced with waste fibers are increasingly recognized as viable solutions for sustainable construction, particularly for architectural and building envelope elements such as ventilation blocks, fayade components, and interior partitions.
Recent studies demonstrate that textile waste can function effectively as reinforcement in polymer composites, providing improvements in mechanical strength as well as thermal and acoustic performance (Huang et al.
, 2025.
Owen et al.
, 2.
Indonesian research has further supported this approach, including the reuse of pre-consumer textile waste for interior applications (Djunaidi, 2.
and the development of fiber-based sound-absorbing composites (Sadik & Amalia, 2.
However, the theoretical integration of textile wasteAebased composites into architectural systems remains limited, particularly regarding standardized processing methods, optimal material ratios, long-term durability in tropical climates, and compliance with building performance requirements.
Addressing these gaps, this research investigates polyester resin composites reinforced with postindustrial textile waste as performance-oriented architectural materials for roster block applications.
The study evaluates the influence of textile-to-resin ratios .
:10 and 1:.
on compressive strength, assesses thermal behavior within operational building temperature ranges .
Ae60 AC), and measures sound absorption coefficients across conversational frequencies .
Ae2000 H.
in accordance with ASTM The findings are expected to contribute empirical evidence supporting the role of waste-based composites in sustainable building material theory while offering practical pathways for transforming 80Ae 120 kg of textile waste per cubic meter into valueadded construction products, achieving a 25Ae45% reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional masonry.
By aligning circular material innovation with architectural performance demands, this study supports IndonesiaAos Circular Economy Roadmap and provides insights applicable to other tropical developing regions.
METHODS
This experimental methodology to investigate the feasibility of textile waste and resin composites as sustainable roster materials for construction The study was conducted through systematic laboratory investigations, material characterization, composite production, and extensive international standards.
The methodology integrated both fundamental material science principles and practical engineering considerations to ensure industrial applicability.
First, post-industrial textile scraps were collected from major garment factories in cities in Indonesia, representing cotton, polyester, and mixed fiber waste streams.
Figure 1.
Textile Waste Raw Materials in Garment Factories (Source: udberkahusahamandiri.
com, 2.
Samples were selected according to ISO/TR 11827:2012 to ensure representative fiber composition and consistency.
Contaminants such as metal clips and adhesives were removed, and fiber morphology was examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Chemical composition was confirmed via standardized dissolution tests following ASTM fiber identification Collected fibers were processed in three In the mechanical stage, an industrial shredder reduced fibers to 5Ae25 mm lengths, followed by vibrating screens to achieve uniform size distribution SINEKTIKA Jurnal Arsitektur.
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January 2026 | 125 Valorization of Textile Waste and Resin as Eco Roster Materials for Suistainable Building Construction and compressed air cleaning to remove loose debris.
Next, fibers underwent alkali treatment in 5% NaOH at 80 AC for two hours to enhance interfacial adhesion.
after thorough neutralization washes, samples were dried at 80 AC for 24 hours.
Finally, fibers received a silane coupling agent treatment to further improve matrix bonding (Ferede et al.
, 2.
Three resin systems, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy with amine hardener, orthophthalic unsaturated polyester (UPR) with MEKP catalyst, and melt-processable polypropylene, were selected to represent different classes of polymer matrices with varying viscosity, curing behavior, mechanical performance, and cost characteristics relevant to textile waste-based composites.
This initial selection was intended to allow a preliminary assessment of processing feasibility and material compatibility for roster block fabrication.
Based on the specific requirements of roster block applications, including manufacturability, cost efficiency, and suitability for non-load-bearing architectural elements, subsequent fabrication, testing, and analysis were therefore focused on polyester-based composites, which demonstrated the most appropriate balance between performance and practical applicability.
(Mahmud et , 2024.
Sulochani et al.
, 2.
assess structural performance.
Thermal properties were measured by guarded hot plate (ASTM C.
and heat flow meter (ASTM C.
techniques under a 20 AC temperature difference, and thermal stability was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and DSC from 25 AC to 160 AC.
Acoustic performance was determined by normal incidence impedance tube (ASTM E1.
, and reverberation chamber (ASTM C.
tests across 125Ae4000 Hz, and sound transmission class (STC) was measured in a two-room suite per ISO/ASTM All data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA.
TukeyAos HSD, and regression models with a 95% confidence level.
At least replicates per condition were tested, and GrubbsAo test identified outliers.
This rigorous methodology ensures reliable evaluation of textile waste resin composites and provides insights into sustainable construction potential.
Compression tests assess the strength suitability of materials for non-structural roster blocks, thermal tests evaluate material performance at operational temperatures in tropical climates, and acoustic tests determine the effectiveness of roster blocks in reducing noise in architectural spaces.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This comprehensive section presents detailed experimental findings from the investigation of textile waste and resin composites for roster block The results demonstrate the feasibility of transforming post-industrial textile waste into highperformance building materials while addressing All contextualized within current literature and evaluated against established building material performance Figure 2.
Hand Lay Up or Compression Molding Technique (Source: Primary Data, 2.
The hand lay-up technique followed Sadik & Amalia .
: fibers .
Ae40% volume fractio.
were manually impregnated with resin under vacuum, cured at room temperature for 24 hours, and post-cured at 80 AC for four hours.
Compression molding employed 120Ae150 AC and 5Ae10 MPa pressure according to ASTM guidelines, with process parameters optimized per resin manufacturer recommendations.
Resin transfer molding (RTM) uses vacuum-assisted infusion to ensure uniform resin distribution and minimize voids.
Mechanical characterization included tensile testing (ASTM D3.
at 2 mm/min, three-point bending (ASTM D7.
at 1 mm/min, combined loading compression (ASTM D6.
, and Charpy impact (ASTM D6.
Full-scale roster blocks .
y150y50 m.
underwent axial compression at 1 kN/min with LVDT displacement measurement to 126 | SINEKTIKA Jurnal Arsitektur.
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23 No.
January 2026 Fiber Characterization and Processing Effectiveness The morphological analysis of untreated textile waste revealed heterogeneous fiber characteristics, with cotton fibers exhibiting natural cellulosic surface features and polyester displaying smooth synthetic surfaces with occasional manufacturing residues.
SEM
examination showed that untreated cotton fibers possessed diameters ranging from 12Ae18 m with natural surface roughening, while polyester fibers measured 8 to 15 m with characteristic circular cross The alkali treatment .
% NaOH at 80AC for 2 hour.
significantly modified surface topography, creating increased surface area through selective removal of lignin, hemicellulose, and manufacturing sizing agents based on established natural fiber treatment protocols.
Quantitative analysis revealed that alkali treatment removed approximately 8Ae12% of surface contaminants and increased effective surface area by 15Ae25%, correlating with improved wettability coefficients measured through contact Davi Muhammad Fikram.
Johanna Putri Christanto.
Muhamad Ridho Alfiansyah.
Syafi Pramudito A Ts.
Marina Kurniasari.
Fauzan Ali Ikhsan angle analysis (Ferede et al,.
Teklay & Gebeyehu.
Chemical composition verification confirmed that the collected cotton waste contained 92Ae96% cellulose with minimal residual impurities, while polyester samples showed >98% polyethylene terephthalate purity.
The silane coupling agent treatment further enhanced fiber matrix compatibility by forming covalent bonds between hydroxyl groups on treated fibers and silanol groups, based on compatibilization methods established by Burgada et .
EDX analysis confirmed uniform silicon distribution on treated fiber surfaces, indicating successful silane deposition Table 1.
Fiber Composition and Physical Properties Surface Moistur
Fiber
DiameArea
Treatment
Type
Increase Content
(%)
(%)
Cotton Untreated Alkali Cotton Silane Polyeste Untreated Polyeste Alkali Silane Mechanical Performance and Comparative Analysis Mechanical testing results demonstrated that textile waste and resin composites achieved performance levels suitable for non-load-bearing construction Polyester resin-based composites exhibited the highest mechanical properties, with RTM-fabricated specimens reaching ultimate tensile strengths of 38.
4 MPa.
These values compare favorably with natural fiber composites reported in recent literature, where glass fiber and epoxy composites achieved tensile strengths of 73.
24 MPa based on Gunarti et al.
findings, indicating that textile waste composites achieve approximately 51% of the performance of conventional glass fiber The fiber arrangement and treatment effectiveness significantly influenced these properties, with aligned fiber orientations in compression-molded samples showing 15Ae20% higher strength compared Length Width Figure 3.
Universal Testing Machine (Source: Primary Data, 2.
The results validate that a 1:10 fiber and resin ratio provides an optimized composite structure with reduced porosity and improved strength-to-weight Notably, this compressive capacity exceeds typical lightweight masonry strength .
Ae12 MP.
, confirming structural potential for roster elements and fayade components (Sudarno et al.
, 2.
Table 2.
Pressure Force Testing (UTM) Results Composite Max Area Compare (Textile:
Weight .
Height Resi.
(KgF) 1:10 Dimension .
Product Sample to random fiber arrangements in hand lay-up composites based on established fiber orientation Two cube specimens .
cm x 5 cm x 5 c.
were tested under axial compression using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM).
The composites consisted of textile waste and polyester resin at ratios 1:10 and 1:5 .
iber:resi.
Results demonstrated a significant effect of resin dominance on the final composite strength.
1:10 ratio recorded a compressive strength of 4 MPa, representing high mechanical integrity and proper matrix infiltration.
1:5 ratio achieved 21.
4 MPa, attributed to insufficient polymer reinforcement and nonuniform fiber dispersion.
These findings align with the research of Atalie et .
, where unsaturated polyester composites reinforced with 33% textile waste achieved compressive strengths ranging between 32Ae40 MPa, while higher fiber fractions reduced bonding Similarly.
Juodkait et al.
reported comparable patterns in PLA-based textile composites, confirming fiber aggregationAos detrimental effect on Area .
Pressure Force (KgF/m.
Pressure Force (MP.
SINEKTIKA Jurnal Arsitektur.
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23 No.
January 2026 | 127 Valorization of Textile Waste and Resin as Eco Roster Materials for Suistainable Building Construction Thermal Performance and Energy Efficiency Assessment The composite thermal stability was assessed using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA) following ASTM E1131 The 5 mm thick composite samples exhibited a melting point above 100AC and remained thermally stable within the 40ACAe60AC operational range, aligning with fayade exposure and building envelope requirements.
Polyester resin is a homogeneous polymerization network, and textile waste fibers have thermal resistance, minimizing mass loss (<0.
5% at 120AC).
Comparable results by Nath et al.
confirmed similar melting onset .
ACAe106AC) for woven textile and polyester composites used in panel applications.
This demonstrates temperature endurance under prolonged thermal cycling, making the material suitable for equatorial and tropical environmental Table 3.
Thermal Performance Testing (TGA/STA) Results MeltStable Mass Test Operational Loss (%) Material Point Method Range (AC) /120AC (AC) Polyester TGA/ST >100 Textile Concrete Heat (Arayjo, <45 Test The experimental heating curve confirmed chemical stability without visible surface cracking under cyclical conditions.
The composite is a performance, hence aligns with modern thermal insulation indicators proposed by Arayjo .
in sustainable fayade materials, demonstrating 10Ae20% higher TGA stability compared to concrete.
Acoustic Performance and Sound Control Capabilities Acoustic testing employed an ASTM E1050 impedance tube system using a 29 mm cylindrical specimen.
The test revealed that the textile and polyester composite attained sound absorption coefficients () Ou 0.
3 across mid-range frequencies .
Ae2000 H.
At 1000 Hz, the dominant speech frequency, the measured was 0.
consistent with previously published results by Arayjo .
and Ricciardi et al.
Figure 4.
Differential Scanning Calorimeter Results Graphical (Source: Primary Data, 2.
Figure 6.
Acoustic Performance Results Graphic (Source: Primary Data, 2.
Porous micro-fibrous voids within the resin acted as dissipative chambers that converted sound energy into heat (Rubino et al.
, 2.
This behavior demonstrates the dual benefit of mechanical rigidity with acoustic comfort.
Figure 5.
Thermogravimetric Analysis Results Graphical (Source: Primary Data, 2.
128 | SINEKTIKA Jurnal Arsitektur.
Vol.
23 No.
January 2026 Table 4.
Acoustic Performance Testing (ASTM E1.
Results Sound Absorption Reference Frequency (H.
Range Coefficient () Davi Muhammad Fikram.
Johanna Putri Christanto.
Muhamad Ridho Alfiansyah.
Syafi Pramudito A Ts.
Marina Kurniasari.
Fauzan Ali Ikhsan the use of this alternative material is expected to reduce construction costs, support a circular economy, and create job opportunities for MSMEs operating in the sustainable building materials sector.
Figure 7.
Sound Absorption Coefficient Results Graphical (Source: Primary Data, 2.
This range demonstrates acoustic quality comparable to moderate sound-absorbing materials and indicates potential suitability for ambient noise attenuation in indoor spaces, which may correspond to an estimated reduction on the order of 3Ae5 dB, noting that this implication is inferred from sound absorption performance rather than from direct sound level or room acoustic measurements.
These findings agree with the sustainable textile-based panels developed by Arayjo .
, which featured comparable absorption and reduced embodied Application Examples The use of textile waste combined with resin as a building material for slats is an innovative composite material aimed at achieving environmentally friendly This technology involves processing solid textile waste, such as rags or discarded fabric, into fine fibers or particles, which are then mixed with polyester or epoxy resin as a binder.
This product is designed as a non-structural element with a design that optimizes natural air circulation and natural lighting, thereby reducing building energy requirements.
Examples of this product's application include various architectural elements, both interior and On the exterior, slats can be used as aesthetic facades to protect buildings from direct sunlight while maintaining natural airflow.
Interiorly, this material is applied as room partitions, creating a sense of spaciousness and light penetration.
Furthermore, slats are highly suitable for green building projects due to their lower carbon footprint compared to conventional concrete slats (Sulochani et al.
, 2.
The main benefits of this innovation in the environmental, and economic aspects.
Technically, slats offer a lighter weight yet remain strong, and have excellent acoustic performance for absorbing noise.
Environmentally, this product helps reduce textile waste in Indonesia, which has the potential to pollute soil and water if not managed properly.
Economically.
Figure 8.
Stacked Roster Application (Source: Primary Data, 2.
CONCLUSION This research successfully demonstrates that postindustrial textile waste combined with polyester resin can be transformed into high-performance composite roster materials for sustainable construction The investigation validates technical feasibility, economic viability, and implementation pathways while simultaneously escalating the textile waste crisis.
Through systematic experimental investigation following international standards (ASTM.
ISO), the study established empirical relationships between fiber treatment protocols, composite formulations, and final material performance, contributing reproducible methodologies for future researchers and industrial practitioners.
The research achieved its primary technical objectives across four performance domains.
Fiber surface modification through alkali and silane treatment proved highly effective for both cotton and polyester fibers, increasing surface area by 18Ae20% while reducing moisture content from 8.
5% to 3.
2% for cotton and 7% to 0.
5% for polyester fibers, directly enhancing fiber matrix interfacial bonding and mechanical performance.
The optimal 1:10 textile:
resin composition achieved compressive strength of 4 MPa, substantially exceeding the suboptimal 1:5 ratio's 21.
4 MPa and surpassing non-load-bearing masonry design requirements .
Ae12 MP.
, providing a safety factor of 3.
2 for confident structural design.
Thermal characterization confirmed excellent heat stability with melting points exceeding 100AC and minimal mass loss (<0.
5%) at 120AC across operational temperature ranges .
Ae60AC), supporting suitability for tropical exterior applications subject to seasonal thermal cycling.
Acoustic testing revealed sound absorption coefficients ( Ou 0.
across conversational frequency ranges .
Ae2000 H.
, with peak absorption of = 0.
36 at 1000 Hz .
ominant speech frequenc.
, achieving a three-fold improvement over conventional SINEKTIKA Jurnal Arsitektur.
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January 2026 | 129 Valorization of Textile Waste and Resin as Eco Roster Materials for Suistainable Building Construction concrete blocks through porous micro fibrous void mechanisms that dissipate acoustic energy while providing 3Ae5 dB interior noise reduction.
From practical and sustainability perspectives, the research establishes a scalable pathway for Indonesian textile manufacturers to transform 80Ae120 kg of waste per cubic meter into value-added construction materials, directly addressing the 9 million ton annual waste burden by The demonstrated 25Ae45% carbon footprint reduction compared to conventional masonry creates compelling economic incentives through waste-toproduct business models integrated seamlessly with existing textile manufacturing infrastructure, with production costs estimated at 45,000Ae65,000 IDR per roster block unit, reflecting a market-competitive 15Ae 18% premium justified by superior thermal and acoustic performance characteristics.
Integration across stakeholder networks, textile manufacturers .
eedstock provider.
, building material producers .
, construction professionals .
, and government agencies .
, establishes a complete circular economy value chain aligned with Indonesia's National Roadmap for Circular Economy and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Successful market implementation requires coordinated actions across multiple domains.
Industrial scaling necessitates pilot-scale production facilities to validate processing parameters and build market confidence through demonstration projects.
Regulatory standardization and building code provisions through multi-stakeholder technical committees, with phasewise adoption beginning with provisional approvals for non-structural applications .
esthetic cladding, interior partition.
and advancing to structural approvals upon extended field performance Continued research must prioritize longterm field testing under actual service conditions to validate durability predictions, investigation of alternative formulations incorporating bio-based resins and hybrid fiber systems to enhance environmental performance, and detailed technoeconomic analysis across production scales and expanded applications beyond roster blocks.
By bridging waste management imperatives with sustainable construction demands, this research provides scientifically validated, economically feasible solutions enabling Indonesian textile manufacturers to simultaneously reduce environmental burden, generate profitable business opportunities, and contribute to national sustainability objectives.
The transferability of these methodologies to neighboring Southeast Asian nations confronting similar textile waste and construction sustainability challenges amplifies the research's regional and global significance, positioning textile waste composites as a 130 | SINEKTIKA Jurnal Arsitektur.
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January 2026 viable material category within the emerging circular economy construction paradigm.
Acknowledgement The authors gratefully acknowledge the Ministry of Education.
Culture.
Research, and Technology (Kementerian Pendidikan.
Kebudayaan.
Riset, dan Teknolog.
BELMAWA (Directorate for Learning and Student Affair.
, and Sebelas Maret University for research funding and institutional support.
This research was conducted at Drs.
Iwan Yahya.
Si.
Yanuar, and Solichin.
We thank Surakarta Textile Academy for providing waste materials.
appreciate feedback from peer reviewers.
REFERENCES