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Microinjection molding of plastic microfluidic chips including circular microchannels
Author(s) -
Lee BongKee
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.23535
Subject(s) - electroforming , microchannel , materials science , molding (decorative) , microfluidics , cross section (physics) , fabrication , composite material , nanotechnology , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , layer (electronics) , quantum mechanics , pathology
In this study, a microfluidic chip prototype having circular microchannels was replicated by microinjection molding process, employing a modularized and sectioned micromold system (MSMS). In the viewpoint of microfluidic manipulation, a microchannel with circular cross‐section shows several advantages over a conventional rectangular and/or square microchannel. To achieve a mass production of the microchannels with circular or round cross‐sections, the micromold was designed and fabricated based on the concept of MSMS. It consisted of several micromold modules, each having half‐circular cross‐sectional microstructures on its one‐side surface. The modules were precisely manufactured by a deep X‐ray lithography using a synchrotron radiation and a subsequent nickel electroforming process. Then, the MSMS for a microinjection molding process was constructed by assembling the nickel modules. After the molding of plastic plate with open microchannels of half‐circular cross‐section, a thermal bonding of microinjection‐molded plates was carried out to produce the microfluidic chip prototype including the circular microchannels. Observation of the surface quality, measurement of cross‐sectional profiles, and microfluidic test were carried out, which verified the usefulness of the present fabrication process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:42–50, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers