title: Breakup of microdroplets in asymmetric T junctions.
abstract: Symmetric T junctions have been used widely in microfluidics to generate equal-sized microdroplets, which are applicable in drug delivery systems. A newly proposed method for generating unequal-sized microdroplets at a T junction is investigated theoretically and experimentally. Asymmetric T junctions with branches of identical lengths and different cross sections are utilized for this aim. An equation for the critical breakup of droplets at asymmetric T junctions and one for determining the breakup point of droplets are developed. A good agreement was observed between the theories (present and previous) and the experiments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Milad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samie
authors.forename: Alinaghi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salari
authors.forename: Mohammad Behshad
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Shafii
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules