4D synchrotron microtomography and pore-network modelling for direct in situ capillary flow visualization in 3D printed microfluidic channels. Issue 13 (9th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piovesan, Agnese; Van De Looverbosch, Tim; Verboven, Pieter; Achille, Clement; Parra Cabrera, Cesar; Boller, Elodie; Cheng, Yin; Ameloot, Rob; Nicolai, Bart
• Is Part Of: Lab on a chip. Volume 20:Issue 13(2020)
• Page Start: 2403
• Page End: 2411
• Publication Date: 2020-06-09
• Subjects: Miniature electronic equipment -- Periodicals; Combinatorial chemistry -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 543.0813
• DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00227e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-0197

Abstract

Abstract : We investigate fluid flow at the pore scale in novel 3D printed microfluidic channels through synchrotron microtomography and pore-network modelling. Abstract : Powder-based 3D printing was employed to produce porous, capillarity-based devices suitable for passive microfluidics. Capillary imbibition in such devices was visualized in situ through dynamic synchrotron X-ray microtomography performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) with sub-second time resolution. The obtained reconstructed images were segmented to observe imbibition dynamics, as well as to compute the system effective contact angle and to generate a pore-network to model capillary imbibition. A contact angle gradient was observed resulting in a preferential wicking direction, with the central portion of the microfluidic channel filling faster than the edge areas. The contact angle analysis and the pore-network model results suggest that this is due to spatial variations in the material surface properties arising from both the 3D printing and the subsequent drying processes.