Figure 1
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Team 2
Team Members |
Faculty Advisor |
Alex Schletter |
Dr. Anson Ma Sponsor Unilever |
sponsored by
Innovative Micro-Fluidic Solutions for Modern Manufacturing
With the global body wash market projected to reach $94.68 billion by 2035, consumer goods companies like Unilever must innovate rapidly to remain competitive and sustainable. Traditional pilot-scale testing is resource-intensive, often requiring large amounts of material, labor, and time. Our project addresses these inefficiencies by developing a 3D-printed micro-fluidic mixer that accelerates research and development for body wash technologies, for brands like Dove, Dove Men's + Care, and Axe. This works towards the goal of speeding up manufacturing, minimizing wase, and ensuring the process can be effectively scaled. Our team designed a small-scale device featuring multiple inlets and a single outlet to mix complex fluids semi-continuously. This device is uniquely designed to replicate the mixing dynamics of existing production methods, bringing consideration for scale at the very beginning of the development process. This approach allows for precise formulation testing using 99% less raw material than standard methods. To ensure performance, the system precisely mixes materials driving accuracy and adherence to desired quality characteristics, like pH and rheology. We utilized SolidWorks for digital prototyping and COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate fluid behavior, pressure gradients, and mixing quality. These simulations allowed us to optimize channel geometry and prevent structural failure before printing the designs with a Formlabs SLA 3D printer. By pairing physical testing with digital predictive models, we have created a sustainable, high-resolution solution that minimizes waste and shortens development periods for the next generation of personal care products.