DESIGN-LED ENHANCEMENT OF NIPA PALM MIDRIB STICKS FOR SUSTAINABLE CRAFT APPLICATIONS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF DYEING AND BLEACHING TREATMENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJIREV.826038Keywords:
Creative Economy, Material Driven Design, Nipa Palm Midrib Sticks, Surface Treatment, Sustainable CraftAbstract
Nipa palm midrib sticks are still an under-used lignocellulosic material in the production of crafts and there is little evidence on how they respond to simple surface and colour treatments. This practice-based comparative experiment investigated the influence of surface preparation, treatment type, and exposure time on visible colour development and apparent material integrity. Scraped and unscraped sticks were treated with synthetic dyes, turmeric, commercial food colourants, peroxide-based hair-bleaching products, and household hypochlorite. Photographic records and descriptive notes were used to compare colour depth, uniformity, surface coverage, penetration and visible fibre deterioration. Since there are no replicated colour measurements, and no mechanical tests to test the effectiveness of the plastic, the results are primarily based on visual observations. So, the appearance of integrity is only related to the condition of the material and not to strength. Scraping generally enhanced colour uptake and produced a more even appearance. Longer dyeing times increased the colour intensity. In comparison, turmeric seemed to have the most apparent golden yellow colour on scraped sticks after 60 minutes. Peroxide-based products clearly brightened the material but there was no clear correlation between the concentration and the degree of brightening. Under hypochlorite, fibre separation and deterioration occurred. These findings suggest that carefully prepared, low-tech surface preparation and colouring can broaden the visual quality of nipa palm midrib sticks while aggressive bleaching may impair their visual quality. This easy-to-use, design-driven approach could encourage material innovation in the creative local economy, but further mechanical, performance and safety testing is needed.
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