A soft microchannel decreases polydispersity of droplet generation

Lab Chip. 2014 Oct 21;14(20):4029-34. doi: 10.1039/c4lc00871e.

Abstract

We study the effect of softness of the microchannel on the process of droplet generation in two-phase flows in a T-junction microchannel. One side of the microchannel has a flexible thin PDMS layer, which vibrates naturally while droplets are generated; the deformation frequency coincides with the frequency of droplet formation. Furthermore, we compare the polydispersity of water-in-oil droplets formed with a microchannel with one soft wall with those formed in a conventional rigid microchannel. We show that deformation of the soft wall reduces the polydispersity in the droplet size.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques* / instrumentation
  • Oils / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Oils
  • Water
  • baysilon