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Swelling-induced patterning in soft microchannels
Haolin Li1, Aidan Retallick2, Anne Juel1
1Department of Physics & Astronomy and Manchester Centre of Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. draga.pihler-puzovic@manchester.ac.uk.
Soft Matter
|October 19, 2023
Summary
Inflation affects the wrinkling of elastic membranes used in microfluidic devices. Increased swelling causes two instabilities, leading to controlled folding for microchannel fabrication.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Thin elastic membranes are crucial for microfluidic applications, particularly in lab-on-chip devices.
- Swelling-induced wrinkling is a known phenomenon in elastic materials.
- Controlling membrane deformation is key for fabricating reliable microchannels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of inflation on swelling-induced wrinkling in thin elastic membranes.
- To understand the mechanisms behind the wrinkling and folding instabilities.
- To explore inflation as a method for controlling microchannel morphology.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigation of thin elastic membranes under swelling conditions.
- Numerical simulations to model membrane deformation and stress.
- Analysis of wrinkling and folding instabilities as a function of swelling and inflation pressure.
Main Results:
- Two distinct instabilities were observed during swelling: initial wrinkling and subsequent folding.
- Wrinkle wavelength is pressure-dependent, similar to cylindrical shell buckling.
- Large-amplitude folds form at higher swelling, with morphology controllable by pre-inflation.
Conclusions:
- Inflation significantly influences the wrinkling and folding behavior of elastic membranes.
- The study elucidates the fundamental mechanisms driving these instabilities.
- Pre-inflation offers a controllable method for manufacturing microchannels with desired morphologies.
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