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Mechanisms of rectangular groove-induced multiple-microdroplet coalescences

Mechanisms of rectangular groove-induced multiple-microdroplet coalescences Abstract The mechanism of microdroplet coalescence is a fundamental issue for droplet-based microfluidics. We developed an asymmetric expansion (a rectangular groove) along one side of a microchannel to achieve multiple-microdroplet trapping, collision, and coalescence. Compared with reported symmetric expansions, this asymmetric groove could easily trap microdroplets and control two or three microdroplet coalescences precisely without a requirement for temporal and spatial synchronization. To reveal the mechanisms of multiple-droplet coalescences in a groove, we observed five different coalescence patterns under different flow conditions. Moreover, we characterized the flow behavior quantitatively by simulating the velocity vector fields in both the microdroplets and continuous phase, finding good agreement with experiments. Finally, a map of coalescence forms with different capillary numbers (\(0.001< {Ca} <0.016\)) and flow ratios (\(0.1<e<0.9\)) was obtained. The results could provide a useful guidance for the design and application of droplet-based microfluidic devices. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png "Acta Mechanica Sinica" Springer Journals

Mechanisms of rectangular groove-induced multiple-microdroplet coalescences

"Acta Mechanica Sinica" , Volume 33 (3): 10 – Jun 1, 2017

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References (61)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
2017 The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
ISSN
0567-7718
eISSN
1614-3116
DOI
10.1007/s10409-016-0623-x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract The mechanism of microdroplet coalescence is a fundamental issue for droplet-based microfluidics. We developed an asymmetric expansion (a rectangular groove) along one side of a microchannel to achieve multiple-microdroplet trapping, collision, and coalescence. Compared with reported symmetric expansions, this asymmetric groove could easily trap microdroplets and control two or three microdroplet coalescences precisely without a requirement for temporal and spatial synchronization. To reveal the mechanisms of multiple-droplet coalescences in a groove, we observed five different coalescence patterns under different flow conditions. Moreover, we characterized the flow behavior quantitatively by simulating the velocity vector fields in both the microdroplets and continuous phase, finding good agreement with experiments. Finally, a map of coalescence forms with different capillary numbers (\(0.001< {Ca} <0.016\)) and flow ratios (\(0.1<e<0.9\)) was obtained. The results could provide a useful guidance for the design and application of droplet-based microfluidic devices.

Journal

"Acta Mechanica Sinica"Springer Journals

Published: Jun 1, 2017

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