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Controlling the morphology of polyurea microcapsules using microfluidics.
Ingmar Polenz1, Sujit S Datta, David A Weitz
1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University , 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|October 17, 2014
Summary
Microfluidics enables continuous production of polyurea microcapsules (PUMCs) with tunable shell thickness. Amine solubility in oil directly controls PUMC shell thickness, offering a simple fabrication method.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Microcapsules are essential for various applications, including drug delivery and coatings.
- Controlling microcapsule properties like shell thickness is crucial for performance.
- Existing methods for microcapsule production can be complex and difficult to scale.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microfluidic method for continuous production of monodisperse polyurea microcapsules (PUMCs).
- To investigate the relationship between reactant properties and microcapsule shell thickness.
- To demonstrate control over PUMC morphology and shell thickness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized microfluidics for continuous generation of monodisperse droplets.
- Formed polyurea shells via interfacial reaction between isocyanate (in oil) and amine (in water).
- Varied amine solubility in the oil phase to study its effect on shell thickness.
Main Results:
- Successfully produced PUMCs with either aqueous or nonaqueous cores.
- Demonstrated that increasing amine solubility in oil enhances PUMC shell thickness.
- Achieved control over microcapsule morphology and shell thickness through reactant solubility.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidics provides an effective platform for continuous PUMC production.
- Amine solubility is a key parameter for controlling PUMC shell thickness.
- This method offers a simple and tunable approach for fabricating polyurea microcapsules.
