Formation of dispersions using “flow focusing” in microchannels

A flow-focusing geometry is integrated into a microfluidic device and used to study drop formation in liquid–liquid systems. A phase diagram illustrating the drop size as a function of flow rates and flow rate ratios of the two liquids includes one regime where drop size is comparable to orifice width and a second regime where drop size is dictated by the diameter of a thin “focused” thread, so drops much smaller than the orifice are formed. Both monodisperse and polydisperse emulsions can be produced.

[1]  A. Gañán-Calvo,et al.  Perfectly monodisperse microbubbling by capillary flow focusing. , 2001, Physical review letters.

[2]  Christianto Wibowo,et al.  Product-oriented process synthesis and development: Creams and pastes , 2001 .

[3]  G. Whitesides,et al.  Flexible Methods for Microfluidics , 2001 .

[4]  H. Stone,et al.  Microfluidics: Basic issues, applications, and challenges , 2001 .

[5]  Klavs F. Jensen,et al.  Microfabricated multiphase packed-bed reactors : Characterization of mass transfer and reactions , 2001 .

[6]  S. Quake,et al.  Dynamic pattern formation in a vesicle-generating microfluidic device. , 2001, Physical review letters.

[7]  Takayoshi Hayashi,et al.  Electro-optic effect, propagation loss, and switching speed in polymers containing nano-sized droplets of liquid crystal , 2000 .

[8]  G. Whitesides,et al.  Fabrication of microfluidic systems in poly(dimethylsiloxane) , 2000, Electrophoresis.

[9]  J. Baker,et al.  A novel surfactant nanoemulsion with broad-spectrum sporicidal activity against Bacillus species. , 1999, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[10]  Wolfgang Ehrfeld,et al.  The potential of micromixers for contacting of disperse liquid phases , 1999 .

[11]  G. Chidichimo,et al.  Monomer-liquid crystal emulsions for switchable films , 1998 .

[12]  Alfonso M. Gañán-Calvo,et al.  Generation of Steady Liquid Microthreads and Micron-Sized Monodisperse Sprays in Gas Streams , 1998 .

[13]  Thomas G. Mason,et al.  Shear Rupturing of Droplets in Complex Fluids , 1997 .

[14]  P. Becher,et al.  Emulsions: Theory and Practice , 1957 .