Droplet formation of highly viscous newtonian and non-newtonian fluids in a microfluidic flow focusing device : scaling of droplet size and production frequency

摘要

In this paper, we report for the first time the production of ～200 μm-size monodispersed droplets using highly viscous newtonian and non-newtonian fluids (up to 3.6Pa.s) in a pressure actuated device. Droplet size and production frequency have been characterized regarding flow rates and fluid properties (viscosity of the dispersed phase, interfacial tension, shear-thinning properties) and scaling laws are presented. Shear-thinning behavior results in smaller droplet size and higher production frequency than droplets produced with a newtonian fluid having the same zero-shear rate viscosity.