Abstract
A novel hot embossing/low temperature ethanol solvent bonding method for the fabrication of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) field flow fractionation devices has been developed. The separation channel on a PMMA substrate was generated by a hot embossing process without vacuum. Special temperature-pressure profiles were used to analyze the influence of the hot embossing parameters. After the hot embossing process, ethanol solvent bonding was used to seal the separation channel on the PMMA substrate. The experimental results show that the bonding strength with ethanol solvent bonding at 35 °C (aspect ratio (depth/width): 0.043) is 3.05 MPa, and the deformation percentage is very low (0.54%). A burst pressure test indicated that the as-prepared PMMA gravitational field flow fractionation device has a very high burst pressure. Furthermore, the higher resolution of the as-prepared PMMA gravitational field flow fractionation device in the separation of wheat and starch particles shows that the hot embossing/low temperature ethanol solvent bonding technique will have potential commercial value.
Highlights
The gravitational field flow fractionation (GFFF) technique is one of the simplest and cheapest field separation methods [1]
A burst pressure test indicated that the as-prepared PMMA gravitational field flow fractionation device has a very high burst pressure
The higher resolution of the as-prepared PMMA gravitational field flow fractionation device in the separation of wheat and starch particles shows that the hot embossing/low temperature ethanol solvent bonding technique will have potential commercial value
Summary
The gravitational field flow fractionation (GFFF) technique is one of the simplest and cheapest field separation methods [1]. It utilizes the Earth’s gravitational field as an external force that causes the settlement of particles towards the channel accumulation wall. The hydrodynamic lift force opposes this action by driving particles away from the channel accumulation wall. These two counteracting forces enable the modulation of the resulting force field to act on particles in GFFF.
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