The Study of Sunscreen Curtain from PET Bottle Yarn and Its Lighting Quantity for Classroom

Abstract

Currently, the use of environmentally friendly materials is increasing rapidly, all sectors have been focusing on environmental issues with emphasis on recycled materials. The objective of this research was to produce a yarn from PET plastic bottles (used drinking water bottle) for sunscreen curtains in classroom of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. The method of research was based on studying the yarn property of PET plastic bottles of sunscreen curtain with a prototype 0.90 x 1.20 m through ASTM and lighting quantity measurement in the classroom. The results found that the yarn property: the mean strength, the mean toughness, the tensile stretch before breaking, and the mean percentage of elongation before breaking was 3,025.92 cN., 5.74 gf/den, 37.46 mm., and 149.83% respectively.  Also, the average weight and thickness were 311.87g/m² and 0.14 mm. The tensile strength of the warp fabric was 98.5 lbf and the tensile strength of the weft fabric was 151.7 lbf. The abrasion resistance of the fabric that can cause the fabric to tear by 11,000 cycles.  For lighting quantity measurement in the classroom size of 61.41 m² found that the average lighting quantity was 265.42 Lux that was below the classroom illuminance standard which is 300 - 500 Lux. However, this was natural lighting measurement without studying activities and artificial light combined. Therefore, further investigation on the factors such as visuality of students while studying, light control, high ceiling, heat transmission is needed to be considered.