Manufacturing of three-dimensional micromixers using additive manufacturing and non-conventional processes

Abstract

This work explores strategies for manufacturing complex three-dimensional micromixers by using unconventional technologies such as stereolithography (SLA), lost-wax casting, and pyrolysis. The employment of these technologies is assessed towards the development of a new generation of methodologies enabled by advanced manufacturing that includes features to integrate micromixing on devices for medical and environmental applications. Three different technologies were studied to evaluate the potential to improve the flexibility and resolution of devices designed to stir and mix reagents within systems where mass transfer is limited by laminar flow regimes. For this work, the state-of-the-art manufacturing for micromixing devices was investigated, and then experimental assessment of the potential technologies was evaluated for a novel helicoidal micromixer design. Insights of the current state of manufacturing for microdevices were carried out using computational fluid dynamics to evaluate the potential of recent technologies compared with more conventional manufacturing technologies.