This research work investigates the development and application of process
fingerprinting for conventional micro-injection moulding and ultrasonic micro injection moulding manufacturing of microneedle arrays for drug delivery.
The process fingerprinting method covers in-depth analysis, interrogation
and selection of certain process data features and correlation of these
features with product fingerprints which are defined by the geometrical
outcomes of the microneedle arrays in micro scale. The method was
developed using the data collected using extensive sensor technologies
attached to the conventional and ultrasonic micromoulding machines.
Moreover, a machine vision based microneedle product evaluation apparatus
is presented. Micromachining capabilities of different processes is also
assessed and presented where state-of-the-art laser machining was used for
microneedle tool manufacturing in the work.
By using process fingerprinting procedures, conventional and ultrasonic
micromoulding processes has been characterised thoroughly and aspects of
the process that is affecting the part quality was also addressed for
microneedle manufacturing. It was found that polymer structure is of
paramount importance in obtaining sufficient microneedle replication. An
amorphous polymer have been found to be more suitable for conventional
moulding whereas semi-crystalline materials performed better in ultrasonic
micromoulding. In-line captured micromoulding process data for conventional and ultrasonic moulding provided detailed insight of machine dynamics and
understanding. Linear correlations between process fingerprints and micro replication efficiency of the microneedles have been presented for both micromoulding technologies. The in-line process monitoring and product quality evaluation procedures presented in this work for micro-injection
moulding techniques will pave ways for zero-defect micromanufacturing of
miniature products towards Industry 4.0.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/19048 |
| Date | January 2019 |
| Creators | Gulcur, Mert |
| Contributors | Whiteside, Benjamin R., Gough, Timothy D., Brown, Elaine C. |
| Publisher | University of Bradford, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics |
| Source Sets | Bradford Scholars |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, doctoral, PhD |
| Rights | <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a>. |
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