Formation of dispersions using “flow focusing” in microchannels

Abstract
A flow-focusing geometry is integrated into a microfluidic device and used to study drop formation in liquid-liquid systems.A phase diagram illustrating the drop size as a function of flow rates and flow rate ratios of the two liquids includes one regime where drop size is comparable to orifice width and a second regime where drop size is dictated by the diameter of a thin"focused"thread,so drops much smaller than the orifice are formed.Both monodisperse and polydisperse emulsions can be produced.