ERIC Number: EJ1002936
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Oct
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Low-Cost Rapid Prototyping of Whole-Glass Microfluidic Devices
Yuen, Po Ki; Goral, Vasiliy N.
Journal of Chemical Education, v89 n10 p1288-1292 Oct 2012
A low-cost, straightforward, rapid prototyping of whole-glass microfluidic devices is presented using glass-etching cream that can be easily purchased in local stores. A self-adhered vinyl stencil cut out by a desktop digital craft cutter was used as an etching mask for patterning microstructures in glass using the glass-etching cream. A specific calcium-assisted glass-to-glass bonding at 115 degrees C in a standard laboratory oven for 2 h was used to complete the whole-glass microfluidic device fabrication process. Various functional microfluidic devices were demonstrated with this rapid prototyping method. The complete fabrication process from device-design concept to working device can be completed in approximately 3 to 4 h in a regular laboratory setting without the need of expensive equipment and the need to handle extremely hazardous hydrofluoric acid. This whole-glass rapid prototyping method will be of immediate benefit to the microfluidic and nano- or micro-fabrication community in potentially saving time and costs associated with prototyping of whole-glass microfluidic devices. Also, it lowers the barriers to new entrants to the field of microfluidics and could be useful at both undergraduate and graduate levels for hands-on microfabrication and microfluidic courses with limited resources for expensive and high tech equipment. (Contains 6 figures.)
Descriptors: Science Laboratories, Science Instruction, College Science, Undergraduate Study, Chemistry, Graduate Study, Laboratory Equipment, Structural Elements (Construction)
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A