In this work, the authors explored the possibility to develop a microboat for potentially transporting desired targets in microfluidic systems. They studied its design, fabrication, actuation and motions. In three types of tests conducted on water surfaces of different heights in a 30-cm-long channel, the microboat had a speed in the order of 0.1 m s-1, and propulsive forces ranged from 159 to 250 microN. It took 1-2 s for the microboat to go through the channel, and resistance coefficients varied from 0.144 to 0.324. Also, when the resistance coefficient was 0.324, the microboat was still able to travel a distance of 91.4 cm within 5.33 s in a 94.5-cm-long channel.
Propulsion of microboats using isopropyl alcohol as a propellant
Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering ; 18 , 6 ; 067002/1-067002/6
2008
6 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 15 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
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