Fabrication and application of flexible rectangular microtubes

ABSTRACT

Rectangular microchannels are useful in biological and chemical research. However, high-efficient method for producing rectangular microchannels has not been established. Here, flexible rectangular microtubes are produced via a micro-extrusion method. The size of the rectangular channels is controlled by drawing speed, flow rates of the polymer melt and air. A theoretical model is built to predict the size of the channels. To show the capability of the products, they are used as disposable micro-emulsifiers and used for protecting and observing volatile samples. More applications are to be developed for the novel tool which will facilitate research in many fields.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Flexible microtube
• rectangular microchannel
• micro-extrusion
• microfluidic

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.21676244) and the Science and Technology Innovation 2025 Major Project of Ningbo City (No. 2018B10047). Xing Huang acknowledge the financial support from the program of China Scholarship Council (201706320229) during this work..

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the China Scholarship Council [201706320229];National Natural Science Foundation of China [No.21676244];Science and Technology Innovation 2025 Major Project of Ningbo City [No. 2018B10047]

Notes on contributors

Xing Huang

Xing Huang is a Ph.D candidate at Zhejiang University and a visiting graduate at Harvard University, who works on drop microfludics and micro-processing.

Lei Wang

Lei Wang is a Master degree candidate at Zhejiang University, who studys micro-extrusion of microtubes.

Jianxiang Zhao

Jianxiang Zhao is a Master degree candidate at Zhejiang University, who studys plastic foaming and extrusion.

Cong Liu

Cong Liu is a Ph.D candidate at Zhejiang University, who works on nuclear pump, fluidic mechanics and micro-extrusion.

Fanghao Zhou

Fanghao Zhou is a Ph.D candidate at Zhejiang University, who works on 3D printing, dielectic elastomer and micro-extrusion.

Zhongbin Xu

Zhongbin Xu is a professor at Zhejiang University, who works on novel polymer processing technology, including micro-extrusion, micro-injection, etc. He receieve his Ph.D degree at South China University of Technology in 2001.

Hao Pei

Hao Pei is a Post-doc at Harvard University, who studys microfludics and biotechnology. He receieved his Ph.D degree at Harvard University in 2016.