The punch holes on the microfluidic device are troublesome due to the punch tool, and when we connect the pipes to the device, when we give the flow, cracks occur in the input holes and the device don't work. Although the holes look perfect at first, cracks form when we give flow into them. What is the reason? In order to fill these cracks, I used silicone around the holes while the pipes connected to them, but the silicone did not adhere to the pdms surface, also other adhesives failed. What adhesive would you recommend to fill the cracks? How can I prevent these cracks?
You can see the following link:
1. https://translate.google.com/?sl=en&tl=ar&text=How%20can%20I%20fill%20pdms%20cracks%20in%20microfluidic%20device%20inputs%3F%0ANot%20yet%20answered%0AAsked%207%20hours%20ago%0AThe%20punch%20holes%20on%20the%20microfluidic%20device%20are%20troublesome%20due%20to%20the%20punch%20tool%2C%20and%20when%20we%20connect%20the%20pipes%20to%20the%20device%2C%20when%20we%20give%20the%20flow%2C%20cracks%20occur%20in%20the%20input%20holes%20and%20the%20device%20don%27t%20work.%20Although%20the%20holes%20look%20perfect%20at%20first%2C%20cracks%20form%20when%20we%20give%20flow%20into%20them.%20What%20is%20the%20reason%3F%20In%20order%20to%20fill%20these%20cracks%2C%20I%20used%20silicone%20around%20the%20holes%20while%20the%20pipes%20connected%20to%20them%2C%20but%20the%20silicone%20did%20not%20adhere%20to%20the%20pdms%20surface%2C%20also%20other%20adhesives%20failed.%20What%20adhesive%20would%20you%20recommend%20to%20fill%20the%20cracks%3F%20How%20can%20I%20prevent%20these%20cracks%3F%0AAnswer%20this%20question&op=translate
2. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2021/lc/d0lc01217c
3. Article Recent Developments in PDMS Surface Modification for Microfl...
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/microfluidic-channel
Dear Buse Parlak,
You can use another flat surface of PDMS to bond your PDMS crack area by oxygen plasma ashing both parts. They can form permanent bond together. The oxygen plasma has at least 50W for 3 mins.
Dear Buse,
can you walk me through your process?
What are you using as a punch tool? We usually use Biopsy Punches and replace them after some time so that they stay sharp.
I experience cracks in the PDMS at holes when the hole is too small for the tubing (ie I use at least a 1.5mm punch for a 1.6 mm tube). Also, when the PDMS has been at too high temperature for too long I occasionally had the impression it becomes brittle. Can you try to cure / anneal it shorter / at lower temp?
Dear Buse Parlak,
You can try to use PDMS to fill the cracks. After inserting the metal connecting pipe, pour PDMS around the pipe again.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Bioecology
- Systems Ecology
- Landscape Ecology
- Connectivity