Enhanced viscoelastic focusing of particle in microchannel |
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| Authors: | Liang-Liang Fan Zhi Zhao Yi-Yi Tao Xu Wu Qing Yan Jiang Zhe Liang Zhao |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China;2. State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China;3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA |
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| Abstract: | A novel method is reported to enhance the focusing of microparticle in the viscoelastic fluid. Gradually contracted geometry is designed in microchannel, which changes the distribution of the elastic lift force on the cross section. Additionally, it induces the viscous drag force and the Saffman lift force in the lateral direction. Under the combined effect of these forces, microparticles fast migrate to the center of the channel. In comparison to the channel with constant cross section, the present channel significantly enhances the particle's lateral migration, leading to efficient viscoelastic particle focusing in a short channel length. The influence of flow rate, channel length, particle size and fluid property on the particle focusing is also investigated. With simple structure, small footprint and perfect particle focusing performance, the present device has great potential in the particle focusing processes in various lab-on-a-chip applications. |
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| Keywords: | Elastic lift force Lab chip Microfluidic Particle focusing Viscous drag force |
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