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Microfluidic Valves Made From Polymerized Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate
Chad I Rogers1, Joseph B Oxborrow2, Ryan R Anderson2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602.
Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical
|December 21, 2013
Summary
New polymerized polyethylene glycol diacrylate (poly-PEGDA) membrane valves offer fast, durable operation. These non-elastomeric valves demonstrate robust performance after extensive actuation, suitable for microfluidic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Pneumatically actuated valves are crucial components in microfluidic systems.
- Non-elastomeric materials offer unique advantages in valve design and durability.
- Polymerized polyethylene glycol diacrylate (poly-PEGDA) presents a promising material for valve fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the temporal response, closure, and long-term durability of poly-PEGDA membrane valves.
- To investigate the influence of valve geometry on performance.
- To assess the operational stability of these valves under repeated actuation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of pneumatically actuated, non-elastomeric membrane valves using poly-PEGDA.
- Measurement of valve opening and closure times.
- Evaluation of valve performance across different geometries (circular and rectangular).
- Assessment of fluid pressure requirements for valve operation before and after conditioning actuations.
- Long-term durability testing through extensive actuation cycles.
Main Results:
- Achieved valve opening time of ~100 ms and closure time of ~20 ms, enabling operation up to 8 Hz.
- Demonstrated that surface area for membrane interaction is critical for valve performance.
- Observed an initial higher fluid pressure requirement to open valves, which normalized after ~1000 actuations due to polymer chain reconfiguration and increased elasticity.
- Confirmed robust performance with no change in effective operation after 115,000 actuations.
Conclusions:
- Poly-PEGDA membrane valves exhibit fast and durable pneumatic actuation.
- The material's properties allow for conditioning to optimize performance and ensure long-term reliability.
- These non-adsorptive valves are suitable for microfluidic applications, including pumps for assays interfaced with biosensors or impedance detection.
