Potential of Dried Red Palm Leaves as Sheet Interior Material

Red palm leaves only used as ornamental plants in the yard around the house, as they dry out and fall to the ground, they become unusable rubbish. Research has shown that red palm leaves are of high fiber quality. Red palm leaves are a good choice for furniture because they are durable and appealing in addition to having excellent fiber content and the level of quality[1]. This study seeks to serve as a resource of knowledge and a substitute for furniture craftsmen who want to utilize furniture mats made from leaf waste instead of wood or plastic. It can reduce the usage of inorganic resources that can harm the environment and nature through the use of materials from biological waste. Preparing tools and supplies, washing, drying, and shaping furniture mats are all steps in the process of creating organic furniture mats. Two parameters, namely the width of the palm leaf sheet with a size range of 2 cm and 3 cm, were identified as influences in this investigation [2]. The mechanical qualities of the red palm leaves used as the base for the organic furniture were tested, along with the leaves’ biodegradability and water permeability [3]. This is going to be a solution that may reduce waste from dried red palm tree leaves and work as a platform for furniture instead of using materials like wood and plastic that are bad for the environment.


Research Background
One of the most common plants in Indonesia, which is in the Kalimantan and Sumatra regions, is the red palm leaf (Cyrtostachys lakka Becc).The high number of red palm trees that decorative plants can enhance the garden, in every yard serves to further support this.Red palm trees are utilized as air filters to capture pollutants like formaldehyde and other harmful elements, in addition to beautifying the garden (Dekoruma, 2021) [3] .In tropical and subtropical regions, such as Indonesia, palm trees may grow well.There are around 3,000 different types of palm trees in the globe (LindungiHutan, 2022) [6] .
According to the statement, it may be inferred that the red palm tree is primarily used as a decorative plant, which means when the leaves fall they will just become organic garbage [7] .The in question organic waste is dried-out red palm leaf debris.Red palm leaves must therefore be processed in order to be properly used.
Currently, furniture mats made of plastic are responsible for the majority of the materials used in making furniture.Continuous consumption of wood will result in forested areas being illegally cleared of trees.Loss of soil fertility causes the soil to absorb too much heat, which causes the soil to become extremely dry and parched (Health Crisis Center, 2017).Because it is not recyclable, plastic is a component of a material that might harm the environment.
This study seeks to serve as a resource of knowledge and a substitute for furniture craftsmen who want to utilize furniture mats made from leaf waste instead of plastic.It also seeks to identify red palm leaf fragments that could potentially be used as components for furniture.Additionally, this approach seeks to determine the most effective way to use dry red palm leaves, particularly when they are weaved and transformed into sheets that can be used for various interior components.This is anticipated to be a solution that will reduce the trash produced by dried red palm tree leaves and work as a base for furniture instead of using materials like plastic that are bad for the environment.

Tools
A gas lighter, cutter, and scissors were utilized in this study, through with a cutting mat to use as a base while cutting.Red palm tree leaves and PVAc glue in amounts of 15%, 25%, and 30% are the other components employed in this investigation.

Methods
This study used a quantitative approach combined with an experimental research design.According to Fraenkel and Wallen (2009), experimental research is a type of experiment that involves trying, looking, and confirming.If a researcher wants to understand the relationship within both dependent and independent variables, they will use the experimental research method.This means that unless the independent variable (treatment) has been developed, researchers must be able to control all factors that would affect the outcome (Creawll, 2012).Researchers will weave red palm leaf waste in various ways before comparing which weaving techniques are most efficient and useful.The fabric is bilik woven, which is woven in two dimensions using geometric designs (Khansaadora,  2003).Researchers will use various drying and weaving techniques to process red palm trees on the leaves in this study.The first experiment was to cut the leaves into 20x2 cm squares, cleaning them with clean water, and letting them dry for a whole day in direct sunlight.The leaves then go through a day of pressing with a press machine.For one day, it put pressure on both sides.The leaves are immediately compressed without the use of an intermediaries.
In the second experiment, red palm tree leaves were cut into 30x1 cm pieces, rinsed in clean water, and allowed to dry for a full day in direct sunlight.After that, the leaves were burned for two minutes with a gas lighter.The leaves are burned on 1 side of the leaf.It burned repeatedly for as long as two minutes.The leaves were burned directly without utilizing an intermediary.
The final experiment involved cutting red palm tree leaves into 30x1 cm pieces, cleaning them with clean water, and letting them dry for a day.Without the use of any intermediaries, the sun was used to dry the leaves.After that, the leaves were burned for a minute with a gas lighter.One side of the leaves on the red palm tree are scorched.For as long as one minute, the leaves were repeatedly torched.The leaves were burned directly, without the use of a briquette.

b) Second Experiment (Part Making Experiment)
In the first experiment, 1 cm thick layers of PVAc glue were placed between leaves that had been dried for a day and pressed for a day using a press machine in a dead machine state.The red palm tree's leaves were divided into 40 leaves with a 20 x 2 cm cutting size.To create 20 leaves, glue one leaf to another until it is 1 cm thick.Then, arrange the leaves in 10 vertical sheets and 10 horizontal sheets to create a 20x20 cm square.PVAc glue is used to assemble the vertical and horizontal leaves.In the initial test, 15% PVAc glue was used.In the second experiment, a gas lighter was used to burn the red palm tree leaves for two minutes after they had been air dried for a day.The red palm tree's leaves were divided into 120 pieces with a 30 cm × 1 cm cutting size.Then, using three pieces of leaves, weave the red palm tree leaves by crossing the right portion of the leaf over the center, then the left part over the center, and finally crossing the left and right parts.The 5% PVAc glue used in bilik woven holds every other leaf in place.The bilik chain will next be woven into a 20 cm diameter bilik roll.With 20% PVAc glue, roll the weaved together.In this second test, 25% PVA glue was used.
The third experiment involved burning the red palm tree's leaves for one minute after they had been dried for a day.crimson palm leaves 210 pieces of the red palm tree's leaves measuring 30 cm x 1 cm each were cut from the foliage.The third experiment involved rolling the red palm leaves rather than weaving them.The 20 cm-diameter rolls of red palm leaves were made.30% PVAc glue was used when rolling.In the first experiment, 20 x 2 cm-sized red palm leaves were cut, dried for a day, then pressed for a day using a press machine tool under a dead machine state.The red palm leaves were then woven using the bilik weaving method.Each leaf is given glue in this technique so that the weaving remains sturdy and does not come apart easily.In the first experiment, a thin and light weave was made using just one layer of red palm leaves.This experiment made use of 15% glue.
In the second experiment, red palm leaves that had been trimmed to a size of 20 x 2 cm were dried for a day, pressed for a day with a press machine while it was turned off, and then weaved using the bilik method.Each leaf is given glue in this technique so that the weaving remains sturdy and does not come apart easily.The first effort produced a delicate, not overly dense weave using five layers of red palm leaves.This experiment made use of 25% glue.In the third experiment, red palm leaves that had been trimmed to a size of 20 x 2 cm were dried for a day, pressed for a day with a press machine while it was turned off, and then weaved using the bilik method.Each leaf is given glue in this technique so that the weaving remains sturdy and does not come apart easily.The first experiment produced a thin and heavy weave using seven layers of crimson palm leaves.In this study, 30% glue was applied.

Water Resistance Experiment (Woven Experiment based on Water Resistance Level)
a) First Experiment (Water Resistance Test -0.1 cm Thickness Woven) On this first experiment, 1 layer bilik woven with 0.1 cm thickness got a low water resistance (Figure 4, Table 1).Thin layer of material are the main reason that woven becoming unresistant of 1 min frequent water flow, let its palm leaves of the woven spread around.The 0.1 cm thickness of woven have a very low opacity and the gap in between palm leaves made the woven leaks.b) Second Experiment (Water Resistance Test -0.6 cm Thickness Woven) On second experiment, the bilik woven are consist of 5 layers with 0.6 cm thickness.Water resistance of the woven have a pretty good result (Figure 5, Table 2).The thickness of woven's layers are thick enough to resist its 1 minutes water flows and kept the woven on its shape.The 0.6 cm thickness woven have a quite high opacity and minimize the gap among woven.c) Third Experiment (Water Resistance Test -0.8 cm Thickness Woven) On third experiment, the bilik woven are consist of 7 layers with 0.8 cm thickness.The result of its water resistance test is better than second experiment (Figure 6, Table 3).The thickness of woven's layers are strong enough to resist its 1 minutes water flows and kept the woven on its shape without any spreads around palm leaves.The 0.8 cm thickness woven have a quite high opacity and the gap among woven are less than the second experiment.

Table 3. 3 rd Result Experiment Table. Source: Self Analysis, 2023
Conclusion of the water resistance experiments, that the third experiment have the best water resistance performance.Its layer opacity are good as well as the gap among woven are less that can minimize leaks of its woven.

UV Sunlight Experiment (Woven Experiment based on UV Sunlight Resistance Level
Along 6 Hours) a) First Experiment (UV Sunlight Resistance Test -0.1 cm Thickness Woven) On our first experiment is 1 layer bilik woven with 0,1 cm thickness.The result of 0.1 cm woven under UV sunlight resistance along 6 am to 12 pm during 6 hours are very low resistance (Figure 7, Table 4).Both sides of woven's surfaces turns darker, dry and fragile.Woven's moisture levels turns low, made the woven highly fragile when lifted and bent.b) Second Experiment (UV Sunlight Resistance Test -0,6 cm Thickness Woven On second experiment, bilik woven are consist of 5 layers with 0,6 cm thickness.The result of 0,6 cm woven under UV sunlight resistance along 6am to 12 pm during 6 hours the moisture levels found pretty well (Figure 8, Table 5).Both sides of its surfaces turns bit darker, moist enough and weathered.Woven's moisture levels are pretty well, made the woven stays in shape when lifted and  c) Third Experiment (UV Sunlight Resistance Test -0.8 cm Thickness Woven On third experiment, the bilik woven consist of 7 layers with 0.8 cm thickness.The result of 0.8 cm woven under UV sunlight resistance along 6 am to 12 pm during 6 hours are quite good (Figure 9, Table 6).The colours on both sides stays on their original colour, not too dry and stays in ideal moisture.The woven can be lifted and bent, different from the first experiment result.Even though the outer part of the woven found bit dry.Conclusion of those UV sunlight experiment during 6 hours, the third esperiment have the best UV sunlight resistance performance.On the third experiment bilik woven stays in shape and does not really change, it was only change on its colour and made tiny black spots appears while its moisture does not really change.

Application in Interior
Based on the experiences that we did, laminated red palm material are able to be applied as the interior element.On this chapter we will try to elaborate the impact of laminated red palm material when they are applied into design.In this study, we applied laminated red palm material into interior design of a resort in Kupang.Furthermore, shortly understanding of a resort hotel is a hotel that is designed to accommodate guests who have a recreational purposes.The location of a Resort hotel relatively close to tourism places and attraction.(Coltmant , 1895:95).Based on literature, as we know natural elements are effective to meet relaxation needs and self comfort of a human [5] .Laminated red palm material as a natural elements are applied at the lobby/ reception area.Laminated red palm material applied as a non structural cover design with 0,8 cm thickness.Reception/ welcoming area are designed as a semi outdoor building.Consist of roof and floor with minimum physical boundaries (wall).Semi outdoor building design comes with a purpose for the guests to be directly in touch with nature, reducing stress, and maximize positive psychological condition, increasing concentration and recovery rates from their daily life where they used to live in a space/building with massive physical boundaries.Main columns as structual architectural element becoming object design, covered by laminated red palm material.Columns covered by laminated red palm enhancing interior design element with a touch of nature in the centre of the building with a huge scale.They are visually visible when the guests entering lobby/ reception area and clearly play as main attraction of the building.Directly and indirectly, the existence of those columns covered by laminated red palm are meant to reach out 3 senses of guests resort, which are visual sense, sensory sense dan smell sense.

Visual Sense
Visually, the existence of coloumns covered by laminated red palm as a touch of nature element expectedly can provide comfort and a calm atmosphere for the guest and helping lower their blood pressure also heart rate.

Sensory Sense
The existence of coloumns covered by laminated red palm as an interior element, structurally support the building from the roof to the floor.Other than visually, their existence also are able to stimulate through guest's sensory sense (skin) when they are in touch with them.The touchable natural element at lobby area display natural processes to improve health regarding mood and help relaxation process of its users.

Smell Sense
As any other chlorophyll-bearing plants, and so this red palm leafs has a chlorophyll characteristic scent.Those spread around natural scent also helps to stimulate guests sense of smell once they arrived at the lobby/ reception area.Natural scents that are felt is proven to be a physiological recovery in the aspect of relaxation.It is indirectly helping to relieve stress and improve mood quality to be a positive in emotion [8] .

Conclusion
Wasted red palm tree leaves can be utilized as furnishing [9] .If the layer is too thin, it will be readily damaged, as can be seen in the first experiment, where the woven with a thickness of 0.1 cm has numerous disconnected fibers and numerous holes in the woven layer.It needs a thick layer of material to withstand the rushing water at a medium frequency.Contrary to the second and third experiment, which had thicknesses of 0.6 and 0.8 cm, respectively, and could endure water with a medium frequency for 1 minute.
It must be heat resistant, have sufficient strength, and be dense in order to be used as a furniture covering.The third experiment is the one with the highest quality.These findings include great resistance to water and heat as well as good density.The red palm leaves in the third experiment have a rough covering texture and a brown-green tint.
These findings lead to the conclusion that the third experiment can be employed as an interior element material.In this instance, the substance will be utilized as a wall cladding component in one of the Kupang resorts.In addition to serving a visual purpose, this material also has tactile and smell sense that allign with the resort's activities, also it can have psychological impacts.Additionally, based on the results of the strength test, this material is durable enough to be used as a component of interior cladding for either a public or private space [10], especially for maximizing the utilization of daylight or solar energy [11] .

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Bilik Woven a) First Experiment (Drying Method)The first experiment was to cut the leaves into 20x2 cm squares, cleaning them with clean water, and letting them dry for a whole day in direct sunlight.The leaves then go through a day of pressing with a press machine.For one day, it put pressure on both sides.The leaves are immediately compressed without the use of an intermediaries.In the second experiment, red palm tree leaves were cut into 30x1 cm pieces, rinsed in clean water, and allowed to dry for a full day in direct sunlight.After that, the leaves were burned for two minutes with a gas lighter.The leaves are burned on 1 side of the leaf.It burned repeatedly for as long as two minutes.The leaves were burned directly without utilizing an intermediary.The final experiment involved cutting red palm tree leaves into 30x1 cm pieces, cleaning them with clean water, and letting them dry for a day.Without the use of any intermediaries, the sun was used to dry the leaves.After that, the leaves were burned for a minute with a gas lighter.One side of the leaves on the red palm tree are scorched.For as long as one minute, the leaves were repeatedly torched.The leaves were burned directly, without the use of a briquette.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. 1 st Experiment: Water Resistance Test with Medium Water Flow.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. 2 nd Experiment: Water Resistance Test with Medium Water Flow.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6. 3 rd Experiment: Water Resistance Test with Medium Water Flow.
though the outer part of the woven found a bit dry.

Figure 11 .
Figure 11.Reception/Receiving Area Block Mass Kupang Resort (Left) & Structural Columns Covered by Laminated Red Palm Sheet (Right).

Figure 12 .
Figure 12.Daylight View Reception/Receiving Area Block Mass Kupang Resort.

Figure 13 .
Figure 13.Night View Reception/Receiving Area Block Mass Kupang Resort.