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Ultrasonic Hot Embossed Polymer Microreactors for Optical Measurement of Chemical Reactions
Author(s) -
Tollkötter Alexander,
Sackmann Johannes,
Baldhoff Tobias,
Schomburg Werner Karl,
Kockmann Norbert
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201400522
Subject(s) - microreactor , materials science , mixing (physics) , micromixer , ultrasonic sensor , microfluidics , fabrication , embossing , ultrasonic welding , polymer , colored , thermoforming , composite material , welding , nanotechnology , chemistry , acoustics , medicine , biochemistry , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics , catalysis
Ultrasonic hot embossing of polymers is an alternative to reduce fabrication costs of microreactors. An ultrasonic welding machine is used to melt a stack of thermoplastic foils and adapting them to a short‐time milled aluminum mold showing the inversed design of the desired microfluidic cavities. Two micromixers were fabricated this way providing a low degree of axial dispersion and pressure loss. Stability analysis is successfully performed for a wide temperature range and high pressure. Mixing of colored aqueous solutions and neutralization reactions are implemented to both systems for defined volume flow rates and optically investigated via microscope. Reaction progress is automatically determined with a MATLAB script by reference to the consequential color change of the neutralization reaction with a color indicator. Typical mixing characteristics are identified for both mixers.