Experimental Study on Optimal Injection⁃molding Process of PMMA Microfluidic Chip

doi:10.19491/j.issn.1001-9278.2021.04.009

Abstract

Abstract:

The microfluidic chip was manufactured by injection molding with poly（methyl methacrylate）（PMMA） as a raw material. Through a series of injection?molding experiments， it was found that the mold temperature， holding pressure， melt temperature and injection speed were considered as the main factors affecting the molding quality of the PMMA microfluidic chip. Through the orthogonal experiment and range analysis， the optimal injection?molding process parameters for the PMMA microfluidic chip was determined to be a melt temperature of 260 °C， a mold temperature of 50 ℃， a holding pressure of 60 MPa and an injection speed of 400 mm/s without changing other parameters. The single?channel test device B achieved a top width of 591.90 μm， a bottom width of 381.26 μm and a depth of 408.47 μm under this processing condition with the design value of 400 μm for these three parameters. The confocal microscope observation indicated that the chip surface was relatively clean and its microstructure was relatively complete. In addition， the liquid?mixing and droplet?generating experimental results indicated the microfluidic chip manufactured by the optimal injection?molding process parameters could meet the normal requirement for use. This is of great significance for the mass production of the microfluidic chip in future.

Key words: polymethyl methacrylate, microfluidic chip, injection molding process

CLC Number:

TQ 320.66⁺2

MA Xiuqing, SUN Kaixin, LI Rui, ZHANG Yajun, FAN Yiqiang. Experimental Study on Optimal Injection⁃molding Process of PMMA Microfluidic Chip[J]. China Plastics, 2021, 35(4): 47-52.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1. Image of the microfluidic chip

微器件名称	微通道深度/μm	微通道宽度/μm
液滴双包裹装置	500	500
液滴生成装置	500	500
液体混合装置	400	400
单流道测试装置A	300	300
单流道测试装置B	400	400
单流道测试装置C	500	500

Tab.1. Dimension of the micro devices

Fig.2. Sample of injection molded microfluidic chip

Fig.3. Cross?section of the single channel test device

水平	因素
水平	熔体温度（A）/℃	模具温度（B）/℃	保压压力（C）/MPa	注射速度（D）/mm?s^-1
水平1	A₁=250	B₁=50	C₁=50	D₁=200
水平2	A₂=260	B₂=55	C₂=60	D₂=300
水平3	A₃=270	B₃=60	C₃=70	D₃=400

Tab.2. Orthogonal experiment parameters

Fig.4. Effect of process parameters on the top width

Fig.5. Effect of process parameters on the bottom width

Fig.6. Effect of process parameters on the depth

Fig.7. Three?dimensional view of the interior of the microchannel

Fig.8. Topography of the liquid mixing device and droplet generating device

Fig.9. Test experiments of microfluidic chip

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