Our primary objective was to design and build a microfluidic device in which we could study miscible and partially miscible systems and measure interfacial tension.  In this study, we observed how different channel widths and different junctions can affect different miscible and partially miscible systems.  We used four different kinds of miscible and partially miscible systems.  We used channel widths between 5 to 100 microns and a three-channel joint that merged with different shapes.  Junctions that narrowed at different at different angles had different behaviors.  For example, junctions that narrowed and then widened to a S-shaped curve were more likely to have droplet break-up. Too small or too large channel widths had globs of drops or streams that would break up other streams or globs into smaller streams or globs.  We conclude that channel width and junctions can affect the behavior of different types of miscible and partially miscible systems.

Microfluidics: Effect of channel width and design on miscible and partially miscible systems

245th National Meeting (2013)

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