Developing Laminated Sheets Using Polyester and Low-Density Polyethylene

Sri Lanka generates 8500 MT of solid waste daily, with textile waste accounting for 1% of this total. The country is home to around 300–350 apparel industries, contributing significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite the economic benefits, the textile waste produced by these industries poses a substantial environmental concern. Post-industrial textiles, particularly synthetic textiles, have gradually become a major global concern over the last decade, owing to their non-biodegradability, toxicity, and expected growth with ever-increasing production quantities. This issue is further compounded by the lack of significant applications for repurposing this waste, with the majority being incinerated in the cement industry. However, waste containing polyester is often rejected due to its specific properties. This study proposes a novel approach to manage polyester waste. Here, the waste is shredded, mixed with Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and transformed into laminated panels. The composition of these panels varies from 100% LDPE to 60% LDPE-40% Polyester Fabric (PF) at 10% intervals. Tests were conducted to determine the water absorption, thickness variation, tensile strength, and bending characteristics of these panels. The maximum tensile strength and flexural strength were found to be 1.529 MPa and 8.567 MPa, respectively, indicating their potential viability for various applications. The aforementioned laminated sheets developed from polyester waste can be used for diverse applications, including ceiling sheets, racks and frames, and partition walls. By adhering to the principles of the circular economy, this study promotes waste reuse, offering a sustainable solution for managing plastic and textile waste in Sri Lanka.