Sustainable Plastic Bag
Where
Year
Ohio State, Engineers Without Borders
2020
Overview:
Upcycled plastic grocery bags into 3x3x4 foot bulk bags for containing new, recycled materials. Constructed the recycled plastic pieces to create two prototypes and performed stress tests on the seams.
Our entire team split into 3 sub-teams to accomplish the goals of creating these bulk bag prototypes: handles, ironing, and sewing. I was head of the sewing team and as my first task I worked to decide whether sewing was the best method of construction through countless stress tests. And aside from being the main constructor of the bulk bags, I also drafted the sewing procedures.
Project Goals:
The goal of the project was to create two prototypes for a separate club, Buckeye Precious Plastics. Within a few month time frame, we were able to successfuly take this small concept and develop it into two 3x3x4 foot bags to be given to this other club. The other club had only made smaller models, and wanted to task an engineering club with creating the larger bulk bags that they would eventually implement into their club, so it is rewarding knowing the models I constructed will be used as the blueprint for more bags to be made.
Problems Faced/Outcomes:
There were many difficulties that came with sewing plastic. Though it was ironed together in thick pieces, sometimes the needles in the sewing machine would not properly pierce through the material or the thread wouldn't hold well, and would rip between the sewed holes to create gaps in the seems of the plastic bag. But after many tests pertaining to thread tension, needle thickness, and even some dedicated to the application of force to the seems, we found the perfect balance and were able to successfully create two prototypes.
