Flow reduction in microchannels coated with a polymer brush

Langmuir. 2012 Sep 25;28(38):13758-64. doi: 10.1021/la302171a. Epub 2012 Sep 11.

Abstract

We report on the design of microchannels made of glass capillary coated with polymer brushes elaborated by the so-called "grafting-from" technique. We present measurements of velocity profiles for pressure-driven flows of water in such "hairy" capillaries. We show that the flow reduction induced by the presence of the brush is unexpectedly greater than what could be anticipated from simple geometric arguments on the reduction of the effective capillary diameter or from predictions by models describing the brush layer as a poro-elastic boundary.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Glass / chemistry
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques* / instrumentation
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Pressure
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Water