High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Tiles

Abstract

This project mainly focuses on producing the tiles using waste materials 100% from HDPE plastic bottles. The study is to overcome some problem which ceramic tiles is can easily cracked, fade away in time. To be in line with The Global Challenge for Government Transparency: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), this research project is aiming to score three out of seventeenth goals set by SDG which is SDG 09, SDG 11 and SDG 12. The goal of this study by choosing High-Density Polyethylene as product to produce tiles by improving the quality due to the strength is showing better than ceramic tiles. It helps to cut the plastic pollution in Malaysia and it would be great to apply in future. The method of study used the metal mold size of 150mm x 150mm x 5mm and 150mm x 150mm x 7mm to melted HDPE plastic and compressed by a wooden block by using a G-clamp. HDPE plastic melted with the temperature of (200-250) °C in the range about 30 minutes. The time that taken for the cooling process of this tiles is in the range between 40 to 50minutes in room temperature (27.C). Lab test for the tiles conducted during this project. The testing based on the goal which were to achieve. First, would be Flexural Strength Test (Modulus Rupture), where it been proved that the HDPE plastic has a better strength and modulus of rupture if compared to ceramic tiles. The average breaking strength value for 5 mm thickness of HDPE Tiles is 740 N which is higher than 721 N ceramic tiles thickness of 5mm. While the average breaking strength for 7 mm thickness of HDPE Tiles is 1307 N where it is also higher than ceramic tiles of 7 mm thickness which is 1165 N. The values of breaking strength of ceramic tiles are found from the past researcher. Next, from the past researchers, the data for water absorption test for HDPE plastic is low which it is only 0.01%. Thus, there is no need of high temperature to vaporize the water content away from it. Therefore, based on the results obtained this HDPE is tough and well suitable for table top and for marketing purpose due to good strength and water absorption data. This HDPE tiles to commercial in our global market.