Elastomeric microfluidic diode and rectifier work with Newtonian fluids
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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
18:11
Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays
Published on: October 1, 2007
Journal of Applied Physics
|January 9, 2010
Abstract:
We report on two microfluidic elastomeric autoregulatory devices-a diode and a rectifier. They exhibit physically interesting and complex nonlinear behaviors (saturation, bias-dependent resistance, and rectification) with a Newtonian fluid. Due to their autoregulatory properties, they operate without active external control. As a result, they enable increased microfluidic device density and overall system miniaturization. The demonstrated diode and rectifier would also be useful components in future microfluidic logic circuitry.
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Newtonian fluids exhibit a constant viscosity, meaning their shear stress and shear strain rate are directly proportional. This property ensures a predictable and stable response to applied forces, maintaining a linear relationship between force and flow. Examples include water, air, and light oils, consistently demonstrating this proportional behavior regardless of external conditions.
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01:27Types of Fluids
Fluids can be classified into Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids based on their response to shear stress. Newtonian fluids have a linear relationship between shear stress and the shear strain rate, following Newton's law of viscosity. Their viscosity remains constant regardless of the shear rate, making their behavior predictable and easier to analyze. Common examples include water, air, oil, and gasoline.
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