Droplet confinement and leakage: Causes, underlying effects, and amelioration strategies
Date
2015
Authors
Debon, Aaron P.
Wootton, Robert C.R.
Elvira, Katherine S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Biomicrofluidics
Abstract
The applicability of droplet-based microfluidic systems to many research fields
stems from the fact that droplets are generally considered individual and selfcontained
reaction vessels. This study demonstrates that, more often than not, the
integrity of droplets is not complete, and depends on a range of factors including
surfactant type and concentration, the micro-channel surface, droplet storage conditions,
and the flow rates used to form and process droplets. Herein, a model microfluidic
device is used for droplet generation and storage to allow the comparative
study of forty-four different oil/surfactant conditions. Assessment of droplet stability
under these conditions suggests a diversity of different droplet failure modes.
These failure modes have been classified into families depending on the underlying
effect, with both numerical and qualitative models being used to describe the causative
effect and to provide practical solutions for droplet failure amelioration in
microfluidic systems.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Debon, A.P., Wootton, R.C.R. & Elvira, K.S. (2015). Droplet confinement and leakage: Causes, underlying effects, and amelioration strategies. Biomicrofluidics, 9(2), 024119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4917343