Results in Materials (Mar 2024)
A fuzzy logic approach for selecting bearing ring materials in pharmaceutical applications
Abstract
The present market trend of prioritizing safety and dependability at competitive rates has prompted the pharmaceutical and medical sectors to search more biocompatible, sustainable, and safe supplies. This paper seeks to achieve the most demanding criteria for pharmaceutical product safety, production capabilities, and performance standards. Hence, in order to avoid contamination, these sectors have set strict controls on the materials used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and medical equipment. The purpose of this work is to introduce the FAHP-FTOPSIS technique, which offers an innovative and systematic way to selecting pharmaceutical bearing materials, filling research gaps, and enhancing pharmaceutical equipment design. The crucial issue of selecting appropriate bearing ring materials for pharmaceutical applications is addressed in this work. This research suggests the use of fuzzy logic as an innovative and successful technique to addressing this issue. Fuzzy logic is used to handle and evaluate linguistic data linked with the performance criteria of various materials such as PEEK, PTFE, Acetal, Stainless Steel, and Nylon6. A preference-based approach was used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of five commonly used materials for bearing rings. This included a direct comparison of different polymers, which are gaining favor in the pharmaceutical device sector, and stainless steel, that have traditionally been used for pharmaceutical equipment. The assessment was performed using the FAHP (Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process), which assigned performance weight criteria as follows: C1 (0.128, 0.153, 0.139), C2 (0.082, 0.041, 0.019), C3 (0.425, 0.107, 0.371), C4 (0.528, 0.215, 0.089), C5 (0.137, 0.072, 0.036), C6 (0.092, 0.153, 0.172), C7 (0.063, 0.049, 0.032), C8 (0.048, 0.25, 0.049), and so on. Then, the FTOPSIS (Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) was used to rank the alternatives, with the following results revealing the order: PEEK > Acetal > Nylon 6 > Stainless Steel > PTFE. This novel technology has the potential to improve the precision of material selection, therefore enhancing the overall efficiency and safety of pharmaceutical equipment and processes. The results clearly indicate that PTFE-based bearings surpass metallic ones in several aspects, including corrosion resistance, quiet operation, and minimal routine maintenance requirements. Remarkably, the calculated weight criteria align closely with the manufacturer's provided data. This innovative hybrid approach, combining FAHP (Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process) and FTOPSIS (Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), has the potential to simplify and optimize new product designs for pharmaceutical devices, reducing costs in the process. These findings highlight the efficacy of the FAHP-FTOPSIS technique in addressing the hitherto unexplored challenge of selecting suitable bearing component materials for specific applications. This approach offers a promising avenue for enhancing pharmaceutical device performance and reliability, marking a significant advancement in this field.
