In this mini project, I experimented with moulding HDPE plastic to see if it would be a viable material for me to incorporate into future projects.

In preparation for this project, I researched where I can get a lot of HDPE from. When doing so, I learned that HDPE is commonly used in the production of bottle lids. Upon learning this, I sent a message around to all my friends and family to not throw away their bottle lids, but instead to save them up for me so that I can melt them down. After acquiring the HDPE,I needed a source of heat to help melt it down.

To do this, I used my mum's panini maker and some grease-proof paper to melt the plastic down slowly so that i could practice moulding it. 

I continued to layer the bottle caps up until i had a substantial amount of liquid HDPE (of varying colours) at which point, i was ready to attempt to form it.

For my former, I used a small wooden box I had in my shed. The box worked such that the lid slid into the box. With this, I could pour in my plastic and tighten the whole thing in the vice to produce a rectangular plastic bar. 

This was the final result. as simplistic as this was, it proved that I had the ability to incorporate HDPE into future projects which was a valuable piece of knowledge as it opens up new routes in terms of recycling and sustainability in my designs.

After doing this experiment, I later ended up researching HDPE in further detail in order to analyse why the material is the way it is and have a look into the manufacturing processes involved in creating HDPE. 

I collated all of my research into a report: