Development and validation of methods for determination of liquid properties, volume, and flow in microfluidic devices
Microfluidics, concerned with handling fluids on the scale from nano to millilitres, has important applications in biomedical and chemical analysis. At these small scales, surface tension forces play an important role in fluid dynamics and therefore must be understood by microfluidics engineers and scientists. Surface tension forces are influenced by surface properties such as texture, surface energy, etc., and result in specific interaction between the liquid and the surface. Understanding this interaction is fundamental to understanding microfluidic flow properties such as resistivity and fouling, that is, key performance parameters of microfluidic devices. The interaction is usually expressed as hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and wettability. Therefore, efficient, and correct measurement of these quantities is required. Furthermore, methods to measure flow and volume in microfluidic devices must be developed. The objective of this work, carried out within the scope of the EMPIR MFMET project, was to face such challenges through the development and validation of methods for determination of liquid properties, volume, and flow in microfluidic devices.
João Lima is currently doing his thesis to obtain a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NOVA School of Science and Technology – Nova University of Lisbon – Portugal
Andreia Furtado has received a PhD in Materials Science in 2012 from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology – Nova University of Lisbon – Portugal. She is the head of Properties of Liquids Laboratory of Portuguese Institute for Quality (IPQ), where she works as a senior metrology scientist since 2006.
Elsa Batista holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from NOVA School of Science and Technology in 2022, a master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Sciences in Lisbon in 2007 and has a degree in Applied Chemistry from the NOVA School of Science and Technology in 1999. Since 1999, she has worked at the Laboratório de Volume of Instituto Português da Qualidade as a superior technician and laboratory manager. She is the contact person and head of the volume subgroup of the EURAMET flow technical committee.
Sara Moura has received a postgraduate degree in Management in Quality and Food Safety in 2004 from the Higher Institute of Health Sciences – South; Egas Moniz C.R.L. – Portugal. She is senior technician in Properties of Liquids Laboratory of Portuguese Institute for Quality (IPQ), where she works since 2021. Her research interests are in the areas of density, viscosity, surface tension and reology.
Helena Navas has received a PhD from NOVA School of Science and Technology – Universidade NOVA de Lisboa – Portugal. She is currently Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering of the NOVA School of Science and Technology – Portugal and researcher at UNIDEMI. Her research interests are in the areas of innovation, continuous improvement, quality, and process management.
André Lopes is a Mechanical Engineering Integrated Master’s Student at Nova School of Science and Technology–Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. He is currently concluding his Master’s Thesis from a partnership between FCT-UNL, INESC MNand IPQ. In his work microfluidic pumps were optimized and fabricated at INESC MN and then calibrated at IPQ-LVC using the front track method. His research interest focus on Mechanical Design.
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Contact angle, flow, microfluidics, surface tension
