Issue 20, 2010

Development of a MEMS based dynamic rheometer

Abstract

Rheological methods that interrogate nanolitre scale volumes of fluids and solids have advanced considerably over the past decade, yet there remains a need for methods that probe the frequency-dependent complex rheological moduli through application of homogenous strain fields. Here we describe a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based approach for the measurement of dynamic rheology of soft matter where oscillatory strain is produced in a sample sandwiched between an oscillating MEMS stage and a glass plate. The resulting stress–strain relationships are revealed by measurement and analysis of the stage motion. We present preliminary data on simple viscous fluids and on viscoelastic thin films. In this proof-of-principle device, we measure moduli in the range of 50 Pa to 10 kPa over a range of 3 rad s−1 to 3000 rad s−1 using less than 5 nL of sample material. The device's measurement window is limited primarily by our current ability to measure the motion of the stage. This device will provide a new way to characterize dynamic microrheology of an array of novel materials and will prove useful in a number of areas including biorheology, microfluidics and polymer thin films.

Graphical abstract: Development of a MEMS based dynamic rheometer

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Apr 2010
Accepted
30 Jul 2010
First published
31 Aug 2010

Lab Chip, 2010,10, 2749-2757

Development of a MEMS based dynamic rheometer

G. F. Christopher, J. M. Yoo, N. Dagalakis, S. D. Hudson and K. B. Migler, Lab Chip, 2010, 10, 2749 DOI: 10.1039/C005065B

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