title: Improvement of rectification effects in diffuser/nozzle structures with viscoelastic fluids.
abstract: This paper reports the improvement of rectification effects in diffusernozzle structures with viscoelastic fluids. Since rectification in a diffusernozzle structure with Newtonian fluids is caused by inertial effects, micropumps based on this concept require a relatively high Reynolds numbers and high pumping frequencies. In applications with relatively low Reynolds numbers, anisotropic behavior can be achieved with viscoelastic effects. In our investigations, a solution of dilute polyethylene oxide was used as the viscoelastic fluid. A microfluidic device was fabricated in silicon using deep reactive ion etching. The microfluidic device consists of access ports for pressure measurement, and a series of ten diffusernozzle structures. Measurements were carried out for diffusernozzle structures with opening angles ranging from 15 degrees to 60 degrees . Flow visualization, pressure drop and diodicity of de-ionized water and the viscoelastic fluid were compared and discussed. The improvement of diodicity promises a simple pumping concept at low Reynolds numbers for lab-on-a-chip applications.
authors.forename: Nam-Trung
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Yee-Cheong
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Soon-Seng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Cassandra Lee-Ngo
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Low
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