Plastic micropumps using ferrofluid and magnetic membrane actuation

Author

Yamahata, C. ; Gijs, M.A.M.

Author_Institution

Inst. of Microelectron. & Microsyst., Swiss Fed. Inst. of Technol. Lausanne, Switzerland

fYear

2004

fDate

2004

Firstpage

458

Lastpage

461

Abstract

This paper presents a simple and low-cost prototyping technology for the realization of integrated micropumps in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The three-dimensional (3D) micropumps consist of stacks of structured PMMA layers, which are either realised with precision milling tools for the more complex parts, or fabricated using the powder blasting technique for channel-type structures. We integrate silicone membranes into the chip to realize check-valves or use dynamic diffuser valves. We use two different types of magnetic actuation external to the micropump: (i) an external magnet displaces a ferrofluid liquid plug that plays the role of a piston in a channel; (ii) an external coil actuates an integrated magnetic membrane, consisting of NdFeB magnetic powder in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix.

Keywords

boron alloys; ferroelectric materials; iron alloys; magnetic fluids; magnetic particles; microactuators; micropumps; microvalves; neodymium alloys; plastics; polymers; powder technology; silicones; NdFeB; NdFeB magnetic powder; channel type structures; check valves; dynamic diffuser valves; ferrofluid membrane actuation; magnetic actuation; magnetic membrane actuation; plastic micropumps; polydimethylsiloxane matrix; polymethylmethacrylate; powder blasting technique; precision milling tools; prototyping technology; silicone membranes; Biomembranes; Magnetic liquids; Micropumps; Milling; Pistons; Plastics; Plugs; Powders; Prototypes; Valves;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, 2004. 17th IEEE International Conference on. (MEMS)

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8265-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MEMS.2004.1290621

Filename

1290621