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Rapid Laser Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices from Glass Substrates.
- Source :
- Micromachines; Aug2018, Vol. 9 Issue 8, p409, 1p
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Conventional manufacturing of microfluidic devices from glass substrates is a complex, multi-step process that involves different fabrication techniques and tools. Hence, it is time-consuming and expensive, in particular for the prototyping of microfluidic devices in low quantities. This article describes a laser-based process that enables the rapid manufacturing of enclosed micro-structures by laser micromachining and microwelding of two 1.1-mm-thick borosilicate glass plates. The fabrication process was carried out only with a picosecond laser (Trumpf TruMicro 5×50) that was used for: (a) the generation of microfluidic patterns on glass, (b) the drilling of inlet/outlet ports into the material, and (c) the bonding of two glass plates together in order to enclose the laser-generated microstructures. Using this manufacturing approach, a fully-functional microfluidic device can be fabricated in less than two hours. Initial fluid flow experiments proved that the laser-generated microstructures are completely sealed; thus, they show a potential use in many industrial and scientific areas. This includes geological and petroleum engineering research, where such microfluidic devices can be used to investigate single-phase and multi-phase flow of various fluids (such as brine, oil, and CO<subscript>2</subscript>) in porous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- SUBSTRATES (Materials science)
MICROSTRUCTURE
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2072666X
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Micromachines
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 131808966
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9080409