Microfluidics for Biologists Fundamentals and Applications

Table 3.1

Physical properties of plastics commonly used for microfluidics

Plastic

Properties

Mechanicalstrength

Chemicalresistance

Thermalresistance

Functionalgroups

Fabricationmethod

References

Polycarbonate (PC)

Transparent in visiblerange

Good

Fair

Very good

Carbonate

Milling

[^1

]

HotembossingInjectionmoulding

Polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA)

Transparent

Very good

Fair

Good

Acrylate

Milling

[^1

]

HotembossingLaserablation

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) High flexibility

Good

Very good

Good

Chloride

MillingHotembossingInjectionmoulding

Cyclic Olefin Copolymer(COC)

Transparent in visible andmid-UV

Very good

Good

Excellent

Olefin

Milling

[^1

-^3

]

HotembossingInjectionmoulding

Poly-ether-ether-ketone(PEEK)

Thermal resistance

Very good

Very good

Excellent

Ketone

Milling

[^4

]

InjectionmouldingLaserablation

88 N. Dimov