We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Determination of Factors Influencing the Wet Etching of Polydimethylsiloxane Using Tetra- n-butylammonium Fluoride.
- Authors
Kleiman, Maya; Ryu, Keun Ah; Esser‐Kahn, Aaron P.
- Abstract
Polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) is the most widely used polymer in microfluidic devices. Microfluidic devices are used in all ranges of science. The microstructure of a microfluidic device influences its efficiency. One method for controlling microstructure is through wet etching. A particularly common etchant is tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF). This report shows that the etching rate of PDMS by a TBAF solution is controlled by the solvent in use. This report presents that solvent dictates interplay between the reactivity of the naked fluoride with the SiO bonds in the polymer chain and the solubility of the polymer chains. Both high reactivity and accessibility are necessary for a high etching rate. This gives a simple method to control the etching rate of PDMS and by that the microstructure of the microfluidic device.
- Subjects
POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE; SILICONES; SILLY Putty (Trademark); AMMONIUM; NITROGEN compounds
- Publication
Macromolecular Chemistry & Physics, 2016, Vol 217, Issue 2, p284
- ISSN
1022-1352
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/macp.201500225