Precision fabrication of flexible microfluidic circuits using direct laser rapid prototyping solution

Mur, Jaka (author), Mikelj, Aljaž (author), Podobnik, Boštjan (author), Petkovšek, Rok (author)

An effective development platform for custom lab-on-a-chip and lab-on-a-foil solutions has been regarded as a missing element for wider adoption of microfluidic technologies in everyday life. We have used a direct laser structuring device combined with CAD-CAM software and have developed an efficient, fast, and precise procedure for rapid prototyping of widely accessible contemporary materials utilized for flexible microfluidics. Utilization of an ultra-short pulsed laser has enabled us to predict and control the laser ablation process on thin low-temperature co-fired ceramics and Kapton foil. We have demonstrated an agreement between the theoretic predictions and experimental data on ablation rates, paving the way to a fully predictive manufacturing process. Our procedure enables an independent control of microfluidic channel shape, depth, and lateral dimensions down to 10 %m, while maintaining an exceptional process quality achieved by a parametrically optimized laser output at single-picosecond pulse durations. Our novel rapid prototyping solution features short turnover times, minimum material waste, no chemical procedures, and a single-step process free of heat-effects. We demonstrate the improvements to the structuring process on a known difficult-to-manufacture herringbone mixer structures inside a micro-mixer chip application.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ultra-fast laser processing, surface engineering, microfluidics
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Author Accepted Manuscript
• Submitted for review: 18.03.2020
• Article acceptance date: 15.07.2020
• Publication date: 30.07.2020
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: Str. 1-8
• Numbering: Vol. 30, no. 11, art.115005
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-127059
• UDC: 544:532(045)
• ISSN on article: 0960-1317
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6439/aba63f
• COBISS.SI-ID: 24398851
• Publication date in RUL: 14.05.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of micromechanics and microengineering
• Shortened title: J. micromechanics microengineering
• Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing
• ISSN: 0960-1317
• COBISS.SI-ID: 15628293

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: laserska obdelava z ultra-kratkimi pulzi, površinski pojavi, mikrofluidika