DOI: 10.1063/1.1537519 ISSN:
Formation of dispersions using “flow focusing” in microchannels
Shelley L. Anna, Nathalie Bontoux, Howard A. Stone- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
A flow-focusing geometry is integrated into a microfluidic device and used to study drop formation in liquid–liquid systems. A phase diagram illustrating the drop size as a function of flow rates and flow rate ratios of the two liquids includes one regime where drop size is comparable to orifice width and a second regime where drop size is dictated by the diameter of a thin “focused” thread, so drops much smaller than the orifice are formed. Both monodisperse and polydisperse emulsions can be produced.