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Authors Weigel, N. ; Männel, M. J. ; Thiele, J.
Title Flexible materials for high-resolution 3D printing of microfluidic devices with integrated droplet size regulation
Date 05.11.2021
Number 59790
Abstract We develop resins for high-resolution additive manufacturing of flexible micromaterials via projection microstereolithography (PµSL) screening formulations made from monomer 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate, the cross-linkers Ebecryl 8413, tri(propyleneglycol) diacrylate or 1,3,5-triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione, the photoabsorber Sudan 1, and the photoinitiator diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide. PµSL-printed polymer micromaterials made from this resin library are characterized regarding achievable layer thickness depending on UV exposure energy, and for mechanical as well as optical properties. The best-candidate resin from this screening approach allows for 3D-printing transparent microchannels with a minimum cross section of approximately 35 × 46 µm2, which exhibit proper solvent resistance against water, isopropanol, ethanol, n-hexane, and HFE-7500. The mechanical properties are predestined for 3D-printing microfluidic devices with integrated functional units that require high material flexibility. Exemplarily, we design flexible microchannels for on-demand regulation of microdroplet sizes in microemulsion formation. Our two outlines of integrated droplet regulators operate by injecting defined volumes of air, which deform the droplet-forming microchannel cross-junction, and change the droplet size therein. With this study, we expand the library of functional resins for PµSL printing toward flexible materials with micrometer resolution and provide the basis for further exploration of these materials, e.g., as microstructured cell-culturing substrates with defined mechanics.
Publisher ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Wikidata
Citation ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13 (2021) 31086-31101
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/ACSAMI.1C05547
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