Fabrication and characterization of polymethyl methacrylate microchannel using dry and underwater CO2 laser
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part N: Journal of Nanomaterials, Nanoengineering and Nanosystems • 2018
Publication Information
Authors
Mohamed O Helmy, Ahmed R Fath El-Bab, Hassan A El-Hofy
Keywords
Not Available
Journal
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part N: Journal of Nanomaterials, Nanoengineering and Nanosystems
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Volume
232
Issue
1
Pages
23-30
publication.type
International
Paper Link
Not Available
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
Over the last few decades, miniaturization has become the key aspect of driving evolution of modern technology. The CO2 laser is an inexpensive, flexible, and fast device for fabricating microfluidic chips. Thermal damages associated with such a process are considered the big challenge for microfluidic device developers. This article evaluates the quality of polymethyl methacrylate microchannels fabricated by the CO2 laser. Experiments were conducted in the air (dry) and underwater by leaving a thin water layer on the top surface of the polymethyl methacrylate substrate. The effect of laser power and scanning speed on performance characteristics, such as the microchannel aspect ratio, surface roughness, and heat-affected zone was studied. Taguchi’s experimental design with grey relational analysis was used for multi-objective optimization of the laser micromachining parameters.
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