Fabrication of microchannels: A review

Abstract

Microchannels are primarily used in biomedical devices and microfluidic applications. Fabrication of microchannels has always been a tough task using conventional manufacturing technologies. Various types of materials are in use for fabricating microchannels in different types of applications including metals, polymers and ceramics. A number of methods are in use for fabricating different types of microchannels. These processes include both conventional and nonconventional fabrication techniques such as micromilling, lithography, embossing processes and laser ablation processing. During the recent years, some hybrid techniques have also been developed for fabrication of microchannels. This survey of various literatures reveals a broad spectrum of different processes used for fabricating microchannels. Currently, laser micromachining has been evolved as a potential technology for fabricating microchannels. Laser processing has been proved to be the most time efficient and clean. In this article, fabrication processes for creating microchannels have been reviewed with special emphasis on laser micromachining. This article mostly addresses the fabrication techniques for creating surface microchannels.

Lasers Based Manufacturing

“…In recent times, poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) has been evolved as one of the most preferred polymer for many microfluidic devices (Prakash et al 2014). PMMA possesses high absorbance in mid-infrared zone which makes it particularly suitable for CO 2 laser (Malek 2006).…”

Recent advantages in laser fabrication of micro‐channel heat exchangers

“…Micro‐channels with different cross sections have been fabricated over the years. Most common cross sections include rectangular micro‐channels, square micro‐channels, circular micro‐channels, half circular micro‐channels, U‐shape micro‐channels and Gaussian beam shape micro‐channels . Different kinds of materials have been in use for different microchannel‐based devices.…”

“…Different kinds of materials have been in use for different microchannel‐based devices. These materials can be divided into the following three main categories: Polymeric, metallic, and composites substrates . Laser processing is very simple, adaptable, environmentally clean techniques, and high capable for machining many substrate materials.…”

Fabrication of Microchannels by Using the CO2 Galvo Laser Marking Machine and Thermo-mechanical Sealing Method

“…Trong những năm gần đây, một số kỹ thuật lai cũng đã được phát triển để chế tạo vi kênh. Mới đây, Salimpour và đồng nghiệp đã đề xuất một phương pháp mới rất hiệu quả để thiết kế vi kênh dựa trên các cấu trúc dạng lớp (laminar) [6]. Tuy nhiên, phương pháp laze (micromachining laser) được phát triển như một công nghệ tiềm năng để chế tạo vi kênh.…”