Material Development and Properties of Medium-Density Board from Low and High-Density Polyethylene

This study aims to develop a material from waste low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) into a medium-density board and assess its mechanical and physical properties. The development starts with degreasing the upcycled plastic sheets, stacking using premixed polyester resin as an adhesive, pressing, and laminating. The specimens are sent to the Department of Science and Technology Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) standards and testing division to determine the material’s mechanical and physical properties. The findings reveal that the medium-density board successfully combines LDPE and HDPE waste, achieving tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths of 12.1 MPa, 24.2 MPa, and 14.5 MPa, respectively. The board is suitable for shaded outdoor use but not for continuous immersion as it shows a heat deflection temperature of 57.8 ℃ and 1.27% water absorption after 24 hours. Therefore, it is a potential substitute for furniture, home decor, and light construction materials.