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Abstract:
The mechanism of microdroplet coalescence is a fundamental issue for droplet-based microfluidics. We developed an asymmetric expansion (a rectangular groove) along one side of a microchannel to achieve multiple-microdroplet trapping, collision, and coalescence. Compared with reported symmetric expansions, this asymmetric groove could easily trap microdroplets and control two or three microdroplet coalescences precisely without a requirement for temporal and spatial synchronization. To reveal the mechanisms of multiple-droplet coalescences in a groove, we observed five different coalescence patterns under different flow conditions. Moreover, we characterized the flow behavior quantitatively by simulating the velocity vector fields in both the microdroplets and continuous phase, finding good agreement with experiments. Finally, a map of coalescence forms with different capillary numbers () and flow ratios () was obtained. The results could provide a useful guidance for the design and application of droplet-based microfluidic devices.
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ACTA MECHANICA SINICA
ISSN: 0567-7718
Year: 2017
Issue: 3
Volume: 33
Page: 585-594
3 . 5 0 0
JCR@2022
ESI Discipline: ENGINEERING;
ESI HC Threshold:165
CAS Journal Grade:4
Cited Count:
WoS CC Cited Count: 5
SCOPUS Cited Count: 8
ESI Highly Cited Papers on the List: 0 Unfold All
WanFang Cited Count:
Chinese Cited Count:
30 Days PV: 9
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