Different methods to adjust the wetting behavior of surfaces of the UV-curable adhesive NOA81 were investigated and quantitatively characterized by dynamic contact angle measurements with an optical goniometer. A new method to make NOA81 surfaces hydrophobic by mixing an additive in the uncured polymer was presented. The effect was confirmed by surface roughness studies using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The chemical resistance of NOA81 microfluidic channels was evaluated by flowing organic solvents therein. Emphasis was placed on IR-transparent organic solvents. A simple, low-cost method to fabricate chemically resistant, hydrophilic, hydrophobic and hybrid (hydrophilic and hydrophobic), all-polymer microfluidic channels made of NOA81 was reported. Applications like oil-in-water and water-in-oil droplet generation or handling of a multi-phase flow were presented to demonstrate the chemical resistance and the control over the wetting behavior of NOA81 microfluidic chips. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ivo Furno, Alan Howling, Alexandra Waskow