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CO2 Laser Ablation of Microchannel on PMMA Substrate for Effective Fabrication of Microfluidic Chips

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Published/Copyright: May 10, 2016
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International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 31 Issue 2

Abstract

This paper reports a simple and rapid method for fabrication of microfluidic chips on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrate using a flexible and low-cost CO2 laser system. The CO2 laser employed has a wavelength of 10.6 μm. The laser power used for channel fabrication ranged from 3 and 12 W, the beam travel speeds ranged from 5 to 50 mm/s and the passes were varied in the range of 1 to 3 times. Typical channel depths were between 100 and 900 μm, while the width of fabricated channels ranged from 100 to 300 μm. The effects of the process parameters (the laser power, the beam travel speed of the laser beam and the number of passes) on the dimensional quality (the depth, the width and their aspect ratio) of the microchannel manufactured from PMMA were experimentally investigated. The change law of the channel geometry depending on process parameters was obtained. A high reproducibility of micro-channel geometry was attained. At last, a CO2 laser output power of 5.5 W and a laser beam travel speed of 35 mm/s combining a hot press bonding technique were chosen to fabricate a microfluidic chip within half hour. The pattern qualities and experimental results confirm that the CO2 laser micromachining technology has a great potential for application in flexible, rapid and economic production of polymeric microfluidic chips.

*Correspondence address, Mail address: Xueye Chen, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou 121001, China, E-mail:

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Received: 2015-09-27
Accepted: 2015-12-06
Published Online: 2016-05-10
Published in Print: 2016-05-29

© 2016, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

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  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Regular Contributed Articles
  4. Research and Application of Wireless Temperature Measurement Device in High Temperature Enclosed Environment
  5. Influence on Product Quality by pvT-Optimised Processing in Injection Compression Molding
  6. Effect of Plug Temperature on the Strain and Thickness Distribution of Components Made by Plug Assist Thermoforming
  7. Influence of Processing Parameters and Composition on the Effective Compatibilization of Polypropylene–Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Blends
  8. Impact Modification of Isotactic Polypropylene with Ethylene-Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber
  9. Impact Behavior of Continuous Biaxial Reinforced Composites Based on Bio-Polyamides and Man-Made Cellulose Fibres
  10. Preparation and Anti-Fouling Property of Acryloylmorpholine-Grafted PVDF Membrane: The Effect of Cross-Linking Agent
  11. Fine Filament Formation Behavior of Polymethylpentene and Polypropylene near Spinneret in Melt Blowing Process
  12. Fracture Toughness of PP/EPDM/Nano-Ternary Composites: The Role of Distribution of Inorganic Particles
  13. CO2 Laser Ablation of Microchannel on PMMA Substrate for Effective Fabrication of Microfluidic Chips
  14. A Novel Micro Wall Slip Model Based on Chain Length and Temperature
  15. Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Antistatic Poly(vinyl chloride) Composites Filled with Silver Plated Hollow Glass Microspheres
  16. Prototype System to Study the Effect of Weld Lines on the Performance of Extruded Profiles
  17. Extrudate Swell of High Density Polyethylenes in Slit (Flat) Dies
  18. PPS News
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  20. Seikei Kakou Abstracts
  21. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
https://doi.org/10.3139/217.3184

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Regular Contributed Articles
  4. Research and Application of Wireless Temperature Measurement Device in High Temperature Enclosed Environment
  5. Influence on Product Quality by pvT-Optimised Processing in Injection Compression Molding
  6. Effect of Plug Temperature on the Strain and Thickness Distribution of Components Made by Plug Assist Thermoforming
  7. Influence of Processing Parameters and Composition on the Effective Compatibilization of Polypropylene–Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Blends
  8. Impact Modification of Isotactic Polypropylene with Ethylene-Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber
  9. Impact Behavior of Continuous Biaxial Reinforced Composites Based on Bio-Polyamides and Man-Made Cellulose Fibres
  10. Preparation and Anti-Fouling Property of Acryloylmorpholine-Grafted PVDF Membrane: The Effect of Cross-Linking Agent
  11. Fine Filament Formation Behavior of Polymethylpentene and Polypropylene near Spinneret in Melt Blowing Process
  12. Fracture Toughness of PP/EPDM/Nano-Ternary Composites: The Role of Distribution of Inorganic Particles
  13. CO2 Laser Ablation of Microchannel on PMMA Substrate for Effective Fabrication of Microfluidic Chips
  14. A Novel Micro Wall Slip Model Based on Chain Length and Temperature
  15. Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Antistatic Poly(vinyl chloride) Composites Filled with Silver Plated Hollow Glass Microspheres
  16. Prototype System to Study the Effect of Weld Lines on the Performance of Extruded Profiles
  17. Extrudate Swell of High Density Polyethylenes in Slit (Flat) Dies
  18. PPS News
  19. PPS News
  20. Seikei Kakou Abstracts
  21. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
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