Droplet breakup in microfluidic junctions of arbitrary angles

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2006 Sep;74(3 Pt 2):035303. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.74.035303. Epub 2006 Sep 14.

Abstract

Experiments performed on droplets breaking up in microfluidic junctions of various angles are described. A critical length is found that controls the breakup process. This quantity depends on the flow geometry only; it is independent of the flow conditions and the fluid characteristics. A theory assuming small capillary numbers describes well the conditions that govern the breakup process.