title: One-Step Fabrication of Microchannels with Integrated Three Dimensional Features by Hot Intrusion Embossing.
abstract: We build on the concept of hot intrusion embossing to develop a one-step fabrication method for thermoplastic microfluidic channels containing integrated three-dimensional features. This was accomplished with simple, rapid-to-fabricate imprint templates containing microcavities that locally control the intrusion of heated thermoplastic based on their cross-sectional geometries. The use of circular, rectangular and triangular cavity geometries was demonstrated for the purposes of forming posts, multi-focal length microlense arrays, walls, steps, tapered features and three-dimensional serpentine microchannels. Process variables, such as temperature and pressure, controlled feature dimensions without affecting the overall microchannel geometry. The approach was demonstrated for polycarbonate, cycloolefin copolymer and polystyrene, but in principle is applicable to any thermoplastic. The approach is a step forward towards rapid fabrication of complex, robust, microfluidic platforms with integrated multi-functional elements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. mdebono92@hotmail.com.|FlowJEM Inc., Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. mdebono92@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debono
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. dan.voicu@utoronto.ca.|FlowJEM Inc., Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. dan.voicu@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Voicu
authors.affiliation: Département de Chimie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada. mohammad.pousti.1@ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pousti
authors.affiliation: Département de Chimie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada. muhammad.safdar@uef.fi.|Department of Chemistry, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu FI-80101, Finland. muhammad.safdar@uef.fi.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safdar
authors.affiliation: FlowJEM Inc., Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. info@flowjem.com.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. ekumache@chem.utoronto.ca.|FlowJEM Inc., Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. ekumache@chem.utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumacheva
authors.affiliation: FlowJEM Inc., Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. Jesse.Greener@chm.ulaval.ca.|Département de Chimie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada. Jesse.Greener@chm.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greener
keywords: hot embossing; intrusion embossing; microfabrication; microfluidics; thermoplastic