Abstract: A UV-curing injection molding prototype was developed, and the replication accuracy for the microstructure of a microfluidic chip was investigated. The results indicated that the filling ability and replication accuracy were improved with increasing hold pressure. Moreover, the intensity of UV irradiation was found to have little influence on the replication of microstructure because there were few effects on total shrinkage by UV irradiation. The low viscosity of the resin mixture was advantageous to the precise molding of microstructure. However, too low viscosity generated serious shrinkage, thus resulting in a decrease in replication degree. Compared with traditional injection molding, the UV-curing injection molding exhibits a much higher replication degree.

Key words: injection molding, UV-curing, microfluidic chip, microstructure, replication accuracy