Design a functional landscape fabric that uses lint as its primary material.
We would like to thank you for coming to the initial client meeting to discuss the background and expectations for the Landscape Paper project. We are also looking forward to working with you throughout this semester. With your input, the team is confident we can provide a product you will enjoy. We should also recognize the Landscape Paper project would not be possible without the help of
The remainder of this proposal contains the information we have so far for this project. Included is a schedule, a clear description of the project, and prior background research. We are asking for you to review this proposal to ensure we are on the right path. If you have any concerns, we would love to hear them. If this meets your standards let us know and we will proceed accordingly. We will also continue to send you weekly status reports to keep you informed on the project. We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
“
I. Background
1. Purpose
Ultimately, the goal of the project is to take lint, created during a laundry drying process, and form it either alone or composited with other materials into the optimal landscape fabric. Lint is a collection of short, fine fibers gathered together as fabric sheds during the process of tumble drying. In commercial laundering, this lint is often produced in large quantities, collected, and typically disposed of as waste.
The technical specification or characterization of lint is not well known. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of lint, a metric used to quantify air filters, is unknown. The MERV number tells a consumer the size of the contaminate that can be captured by the air filter they are purchasing.
The metric used to quantify water filters is the size of the holes in the filter, measured in microns. Three organizations are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Those organizations are The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), Underwriters Laboratories, and The Water Quality Association. Every filter is certified using ANSI/NSF standards. Each standard requires verification of contaminant reduction performance claims, an evaluation of the unit, including its materials and structural integrity, and a review of the product labels and sales literature.
Multiple samples of a lint-based landscape fabric will be produced, using information from a previous design group as a basis. Each fabric will be tested on a small scale for its water permeability, ability to block weed growth, and ease of production. The best-performing fabrics will then be produced to a semi-industrial size, and tested in a typical landscape fabric environment to ensure that the fabric could perform similarly to current market products. Overall, the goal is to produce a landscape fabric using lint that works functionally.
II. Specifications
1. Functional Requirements
Design a functional landscape fabric that uses lint as its primary material.
2. Design Requirements
a. Mix recycled lint with varying other materials to make a recycled landscape fabric
b. Up to standards with current landscape fabric on the market
i. Effectively blocks weed growth
ii. Allows ample water permeability
iii. Able to be cut easily
c. Either biodegradable after one season, or able to last several years
3. Design Criteria
a. Safety (10)
The final product should be safe. It should not endanger animals or pets.
b. Permeability (8)
The fabric should be able to allow water to pass through it while not allowing sunlight through it.
c. Manufacturability (6)
The landscape fabric should be able to be easily mass manufactured.
d. Cost (5)
The cost of the landscape fabric should be economical to ensure an affordable product for the consumer.
III. Project Deliverables
1. Administrative
a. Weekly Status Reports
A weekly status report will be sent out to the client and instructors to keep everyone involved in the project informed of the progress made and track the goals for the following week.
b. Client Meetings
Client meetings and conference calls will be held to keep the client informed
about the project.
c. Meeting Minutes
After every formal meeting with the client, meeting minutes will be sent out which will summarize the main points of discussion from that day.
d. Oral Presentations
Three oral presentations will be given: conceptual design review, interim design review, and a final presentation.
e. Final Report
A final report will be written at the end of the semester that summarizes the findings on the project and will recommend next steps.
2. Technical
a. Research
Research will be conducted to further determine the material properties of lint. One of the goals is to find an individual who has the ability to spin the lint into a yarn-like fabric. Material characterization for lint will be determined through researching ASTM standards or analyzing lint with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Lastly, research will be done to determine what other materials will work well in conjunction with lint as a filtering agent.
b. Conceptual Design
A minimum of four design concepts from each member, two for water and two for air, will be described in detail and evaluated for potential development as a filter. The design evaluation will be documented via a decision analysis based on the listed design criteria. Conceptual designs will help narrow the focus on either air or water filtration due to the time constraints.
c. Filter Testing
Preliminary tests will be performed on the lint samples to verify the potential to be a viable material in filtering and will be defined and documented. Other filtering agents will be tested that have potential, to determine which other materials would work best in conjunction with lint.
d. Composite Testing
Composite filters will be combinations of filtering agents found from the filter testing with lint to determine the most efficient, affordable, and resistant filter combination.
e. Project Recommendations
Recommendations for future research, product viability, and need for further product development will be proposed based on developed experimental results.
IV. Gantt Chart
The gantt chart outlines the schedule for the rest of project from the initial kickoff meeting to the final report and presentation.
The Gantt chart outlines the schedule that will be followed for this project. The chart consists of four categories: project initiation, project conceptualization, project execution, and final design. Project initiation includes preliminary research and the proposal. Project conceptualization includes researching the material properties of lint, researching filtration agents that could be used in combination with lint, and developing four different design concepts per member that will be evaluated. Project execution includes testing the different filtering options for water or air and evaluating their effectiveness. The final design is what will be covered in the written report and the final oral presentation.
An image of the Gantt chart is included at the end of this document. However, it is not very legible so a link to it is provided below.
Link to Gantt Chart:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3POLbRvvH2VZ2FhNEltYzVxQWYwV2Z5a1RYZnN0LVRWMkw0/view?usp=sharing
Image preview for design a functional landscape fabric that uses lint as its primary material.
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