Work

Gas–liquid two-phase flow patterns in rectangular polymeric microchannels: effect of surface wetting properties

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: Here we map gas-liquid two-phase flow regimes observed in polymeric microchannels with different wetting properties. We utilized video and confocal microscopy to examine two-phase flow patterns produced by parallel injection of air and water through a Y-shaped junction into a rectangular microchannel made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). We observed seven flow regimes in microchannels with hydrophobic walls, whereas only two flow patterns were identified in hydrophilic microchannels. Our study demonstrates that surface wettability has a profound influence on the spatial distribution of air and water moving in microchannels.

Source: New Journal of Physics

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/7/075034

Authors: D Huh, C-H Kuo, J B Grotberg, S Takayama

Institution: University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute