title: A soft microchannel decreases polydispersity of droplet generation.
abstract: We study the effect of softness of the microchannel on the process of droplet generation in two-phase flows in a T-junction microchannel. One side of the microchannel has a flexible thin PDMS layer, which vibrates naturally while droplets are generated; the deformation frequency coincides with the frequency of droplet formation. Furthermore, we compare the polydispersity of water-in-oil droplets formed with a microchannel with one soft wall with those formed in a conventional rigid microchannel. We show that deformation of the soft wall reduces the polydispersity in the droplet size.
authors.affiliation: College of Mechanical Engineering & Applied Electronics Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Hyoungsoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Zhaomiao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D009821:Oils; D014867:Water; C013830:baysilon