A simple emulsification technique for the production of micro-sized flexible powder of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)

Abstract

A simple mass production emulsification technique was used to fabricate powder of flexible microparticles of PDMS. The insertion of a membrane/filter between the syringes in the two-syringe method allows to increase the monodispersity of the droplets collection, with sizes of a few microns. PDMS-water emulsions were made using this manual technique. The PDMS liquid droplets in the emulsions were thermally cured into spherical solid microparticles without suffering shrinkage. Analysis of the size distribution of the particles shows an acceptable degree of monodispersity. Fire-shaped cylindrical glass micronozzles were used to assess the deformability of our flexible particles as a function of the amount of curing agent used in the PDMS precursor (mixing ratio). The results are compared with rigid microparticles from the market. These flexible PDMS particles have an enormous interest in biomicrofluidic applications, especially for the production of blood particulate analogue fluids.