https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/74125 2026-04-15T03:12:05Z 2026-04-15T03:12:05Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/118733 2024-02-19T10:51:42Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Design of an environmentally friendly airless cosmetic packaging Abstract: The cosmetic business is continually looking for new ways to create products that meet the needs of customers while also taking into account the environmental implications that the globe is currently experiencing as a result of technical breakthroughs in the industrial sector. TOLY (Malta) Ltd is one of these cosmetic industries and it indicated the desire to build an environmentally friendly airless cosmetic container. The solution developed for the innovative airless cosmetic packaging design required to keep the fundamental functionality and operational behaviour of the existing airless cosmetic packaging. The specifications of the developed solution were established through an in-depth research of existing airless cosmetic packaging designs and relevant standards, as well as the use of appropriate design tools. To identify every life cycle function of TOLY's classic airless cosmetic package design, the IDEF tool was used. These functions were then assessed using the E-FMEA methodology based on the negative effects they have on the environment in order to discover which life cycle stages are more responsible for the total environmental consequences. Finally, it was determined that the end-of-life phase of TOLY's airless cosmetic packaging has significant negative environmental implications, making it the primary target of this study. The morphological matrix tool was used to develop two unique airless cosmetic package designs. These designs were then evaluated using a variety of criteria, some of which required extra testing to establish a scientific foundation for the rankings' logic. These concepts were rated using various decision matrices before a final concept was chosen. To further establish that the chosen concept is a more environmentally friendly option than the previous one, a questionnaire was distributed to the general public. Appropriate adjustments were made so that the chosen idea could be injection moulded and any potential failures during the use phase were reduced. Finally, in terms of material volume consumption and recycling, the created solution was compared to the reference airless cosmetic packaging. Based on these assessments, it was determined that the new airless cosmetic package design provides a more environmentally friendly end-of-life solution. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.)

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/118418 2024-02-15T05:48:14Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Factors affecting interface bonding in multi-material additive manufacturing Abstract: Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is the fabrication of products through the addition of materials layer-by-layer. Multi-material additive manufacturing (MMAM) techniques produce parts of two or more materials, where assembly operations can be avoided. Therefore, FFF MMAM is a technique that allows the use of multiple materials in fused filament fabrication (FFF) to create a single printed product. The aim of this dissertation was to study the factors affecting MMAM. The objectives to reach that aim included reviewing existing works based on MMAM, mainly polymer FFF, where the material combinations, the printing parameters and types of testing were understood and examined. Other objectives included the design of part(s) relevant to this case study, conducting design of experiments (DOE) based on design, materials, and processing parameters, and carrying out parts’ performance test, and analysing the results. With regard to equipment used, the E3D Multi-Material Filament 3D Printer was utilised throughout this study. This study comprehensively started with a material selection based on several criteria such as, the weldability of two polymers, whether the material combination had been already studied, the availability of the materials in filament form, whether the polymers are from dissimilar monomers, within the E3D processing temperature and ensuring that the chosen polymers have different characteristics in terms of toughness and brittleness. The chosen polymer combination was PC and PMMA. Assembly and machine calibration of the E3D printed were also accomplished. Additionally, two designs of experiments were conducted for the order of printing the two materials. This included a 1/2 2-Level Fractional Factorial Design where the main processing parameters which affect the interface bonding of polymeric materials were examined such as the layer thickness and the raster width. Moreover, the design and testing of the multi-material parts was limited to lap-shear testing adopted from lap-shear standards for adhesives to understand and evaluate the impact of the DOE factors on lap-shear strength. From the obtained results, it was concluded that the interface bonding of the PMMA/PC specimens was stronger than for the PC/PMMA specimens. Furthermore, additional designs of the PMMA/PC specimens were completed to determine whether the different contact areas influence the interface bonding. However, this was not the case as strong interface bonding was still obtained. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.)

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/118417 2024-02-15T05:46:07Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Design of a novel medicine packaging solution for the elderly Abstract: Medicine packaging, namely tablet medicine bottles can cause issues for the elderly in daily life, particularly when it comes to their opening mechanisms. This issue is compounded if an elderly person is impaired by conditions affecting cognitive and physical functions, including limited dexterity, strength and mobility in the upper limbs. For this reason, there is a need to design a more user-friendly medicine bottle for this target population whilst maintaining child-resistivity for an element of safety. Therefore, the primary objective of this project was to understand the current issues with medicine bottles, in order to design a novel medicine bottle solution for the elderly. This design must provide a positive user experience for the elderly, be easy and simple to use, and be comfortable to handle and grasp. A literature review of state-of-the-art medicine bottles and their opening mechanisms has been carried out. Current social shifts towards environmental sustainability have also been reviewed, along with applicable standards and regulations to obtain a comprehensive understanding of what the current market is, inclusive of what is typically required of a pharmaceutical medicine bottle. By conforming to the basic design cycle, the Problem Analysis activity was carried out by gathering quantitative data through a study conducted with patients at Karin Grech Hospital. This enabled a better understanding of the necessary requirements and their prioritisation, through which the Product Design Specification was created. The Solution Synthesis activity presented an iterative approach to concept development and Pugh’s Controlled Convergence Matrix method was used as an iterative approach for concept selection, by which the most suitable concept was chosen as the provisional design. The Simulation activity led to alterations in the provisional design, and consequently improvements, through tools such as Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, and simulated using Computer Aided Design to ultimately prototype the final design solution. Finally, an Evaluation activity was carried out to evaluate the final design with the elderly and children through a study conducted with both. The results confirmed the design’s conformance with the primary objective. Additional research must be done to continue to improve the medicine bottle’s effectiveness and efficiency. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.)

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/118416 2024-02-15T05:44:15Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Analysis and development of virtual reality (VR) technology for a virtual learning environment Abstract: With the exponential increase in demand changes present in today’s markets, several companies discovered that the current education and training provided to engineers are no longer effective to maintain the high level of competence in terms of knowledge and skills required. From reviewing Extended Reality (XR) technologies which are known for their state of the art in industry, it was observed that such companies are shifting towards new learning methods which utilise digitalisation within their education. It was also noticed that apart from the new opportunities, the shift to these learning methods presented new challenges. This study aims to provide a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) where engineering students are able to learn and understand better the layout of one of the laboratories found within the engineering building. A waterfall methodology was employed to develop an effective VLE which meets the students’ learning expectations. The VLE requirements were obtained from literature and different learning concepts were considered before opting for the scenario where the goal was to familiarise students with the layout of a virtual laboratory. This scenario was then implemented into Unity and the virtual laboratory was accessed through Virtual Reality (VR) whereby the user was able to navigate through the different areas of the laboratory. An evaluation was conducted where a sample of students tried out the virtual learning experience. By using a validation process, which compared the VLE with a traditional learning approach, as well as collecting feedback from students using a questionnaire, the VLE was assessed with regards to its effectiveness in transferring knowledge. Results obtained indicate that the VLE was preferred over the other learning approach. Moreover, by means of the validation process, it was observed that knowledge retention of the content provided improved when the VLE was used. This study aims to provide a gainful insight into the different steps required to create, test and validate a VLE in an educational setting. Indeed, findings from this study show that the use of VR and VLEs would greatly benefit the education sector since an increase in student motivation and interest was observed. Nonetheless, the traditional learning approaches should not be eliminated by the newer approaches but should go hand-in-hand. This is because knowledge transfer takes place in shorter periods of time if both approaches are amalgamated together. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.)

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z