title: Effect of slot aspect ratio on droplet formation from silicon straight-through microchannels.
abstract: We recently proposed a novel technique for preparing monodisperse emulsions using an array of microfabricated through-holes with an oblong section; we called this array a straight-through microchannel (MC). This paper reports how the slot aspect ratio of the straight-through MC affects droplet formation characteristics. Straight-through MCs with different slot aspect ratios and equivalent diameters of about 20 microm were used. Experimental observation showed that slot aspect ratios exceeding a threshold of approximately 3 were needed to successfully prepare monodisperse emulsions with coefficients of variation below 2%.
authors.affiliation: National Food Research Institute, 2-1-12 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8642, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Sukekuni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukataka
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima