MicroPIV methodology using model systems for flow studies in heterogeneous biopolymer gel microstructures
Journal article, 2013

A methodology for studying flow in heterogeneous soft microstructures has been developed. The methodology includes: (1) model fractal or random heterogeneous microstructures fabricated in PDMS and characterised using CLSM; (2) μPIV measurements; (3) Lattice–Boltzmann simulations of flow. It has been found that the flow behaviour in these model materials is highly dependent on pore size as well as on the connectivity and occurrence of dead ends. The experimental flow results show good agreement with predictions from the Lattice–Boltzmann modelling. These simulations were performed in geometries constructed from 3D CLSM images of the actual PDMS structures. Given these results, mass transport behaviour may be predicted for even more complex structures, like gels or composite material in, e.g., food or biomaterials. This is a step in the direction towards predictive science with regards to tailoring soft biomaterials for specific mass transport properties.

Biomaterial

Micro-PIV

Microstructure

μPIV

Flow simulation

PDMS

CLSM

Model material

Microfluidics

Mass transport

Author

Kristin Sott

SuMo Biomaterials

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering Design

Tobias Gebäck

SuMo Biomaterials

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics

Maria Pihl

SuMo Biomaterials

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Applied Surface Chemistry

Niklas Lorén

SIK – the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology

Anne-Marie Hermansson

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Life Sciences

SuMo Biomaterials

Alexey Geynts

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics

University of Gothenburg

Anders Rasmuson

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering Design

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

0021-9797 (ISSN) 1095-7103 (eISSN)

Vol. 398 15 May 2013 262-269

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Materials Science

Subject Categories

Computational Mathematics

Polymer Technologies

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics

DOI

10.1016/j.jcis.2013.02.022

More information

Latest update

8/18/2020