Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

---

In recent years, forming a 3D microfluidic channels on the electrical non-conductive material such as Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in the micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) and medical applications is of great interest. Lithography is the most know process to create patterns on the PDMS however there are a few drawbacks to this process such as high operational cost and time, and sidewall angle. In all applications, the quality of the microchannel surface determines the performance of it. In this research as innovatively the electrochemical discharge milling (ECDM) which is known for lower operational cost and proper material removal rate (MRR) (i.e. process time), and is capable of creating patterns on electrical non-conductive material, was used to form a microchannel on the PDMS. To that end, the effect of process parameters such as electrolyte concentration, feed rate and cutting speed and voltage on the surface roughness and surface integrity deeply investigated. It was observed that ECDM is capable of creating patterns on the PDMS with surface integrity which is comparable with the lithography microchannel. It is also observed that decreasing the rotational speed from 10000 to 0 rpm results in increasing the surface roughness 2 to 4 times, this happens due to the increasing the thickness of the gas film around the tool, and subsequently increasing the flying sparks which results in higher surface roughness. Increasing the Voltage from 38 to 42 V results in 38% enhancement of surface roughness. The 25% electrolyte concentration results in lower surface roughness.

Keywords: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Electrochemical discharge milling, Surface integrity, micro-channel

Full-Text [PDF 1194 kb]   (2117 Downloads)    

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:

---

---