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Published on: December 23, 2013
High adhesion strength and hybrid irreversible/reversible full-PDMS microfluidic chips
Letícia S Shiroma1, Aline F Oliveira2, Eulicio O Lobo-Júnior3
1Laboratório de Microfabricação, Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-100, Brazil; Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil.
This study introduces novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices with high adhesion and hybrid reversible/irreversible bonding. Fabricated using sandwich bonding (SWB), these devices demonstrate exceptional pressure resistance and utility in microfluidic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Microfluidics Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Developing robust and versatile microfluidic devices is crucial for advanced research and applications.
- Existing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices often lack sufficient adhesion or hybrid bonding capabilities.
- The sandwich bonding (SWB) method offers a promising approach for fabricating PDMS microfluidic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the first high-adhesion, hybrid irreversible/reversible microfluidic devices entirely made of PDMS.
- To demonstrate the fabrication of these devices using the sandwich bonding (SWB) method.
- To evaluate the mechanical robustness and functional performance of the developed microfluidic devices.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of microfluidic devices using the sandwich bonding (SWB) method with PDMS.
- Testing of burst pressures for irreversible and reversible bonding configurations.
- Emulsification experiments using corn oil and rhodamine B to assess device performance at varying flow rates.
Main Results:
- The fabricated PDMS microfluidic devices achieved burst pressures up to 4.5 MPa, significantly higher than existing literature.
- Reversible bonding allowed for repeated detachment and re-bonding, maintaining high pressure resistance (approx. 1.8 MPa).
- Successful emulsification of corn oil was achieved, with droplet size and polydispersity decreasing at higher flow rates, achieving monodisperse emulsions at 160.0 μL min⁻¹.
Conclusions:
- The SWB method enables the creation of high-adhesion, hybrid irreversible/reversible PDMS microfluidic devices with superior pressure resistance.
- These devices offer a versatile platform for research and development, particularly for applications requiring component integration or harsh cleaning.
- The enhanced flow rate capabilities demonstrated through emulsification highlight the practical relevance of these novel microfluidic devices.
