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A Fully Polymeric Mouldable Microfluidic Device. Part 2: Designing the Process
Author(s) -
Neerincx Peter E.,
Hellenbrand Swen J. M.,
Meijer Han E. H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201100048
Subject(s) - materials science , clamping , laminar flow , peristaltic pump , microfluidics , membrane , mixing (physics) , volume (thermodynamics) , displacement (psychology) , flow (mathematics) , positive displacement meter , mechanical engineering , composite material , mechanics , nanotechnology , thermodynamics , chemistry , engineering , psychology , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
Details of the mould design are explained and optimized as needed to produce the system on the two‐component injection moulding machine available in this laboratory. A number of adjustments were required in order to reduce the pressures needed to fill all parts without the danger of exceeding the maximum clamping force. For these hierarchical, subsequent optimization steps, a commercial analysis package was used. After the first successful production runs, the two major functional components of the device were tested: the splitting serpentine channels were fed with two fluids, one containing a fluorescent dye, and down‐flow analysis results showed that laminar mixing indeed proceeds efficiently. The peristaltic pumps, consisting of three air‐pressure actuated membranes, were also tested, and found to have a maximum operating frequency of 5 Hz. Above this critical frequency, the membranes do not sufficiently close on their hubs and begin trembling and vibrating in the pulsating flow. Using a mild vacuum to support the membrane motion shifts the critical frequency to 15 Hz. The volume displacement per stroke is in the order of 7 µL, yielding a maximum flux of ca. 100 µL · s −1 .