Progress on droplet formation mechanism in non-Newtonian fluids in microchannels

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20200994

Abstract

Abstract:

Good controllability of microfluidic technology provides a new way to prepare uniform and controllable microdroplets, and non-Newtonian fluids have attracted attention due to their wide application. In recent years, the research progress of droplet formation mechanism in two typical non-Newtonian fluids, namely shear thinning and viscoelasticity, is reviewed. Around the two typical microchannel structures of flow-focusing and T-shaped microchannels, the dynamics of the interface evolution in the droplet generation process when shear-thinning and viscoelastic fluids are used as the dispersed and continuous phases respectively were introduced. Compared with the droplet generation process of Newtonian fluids, the effects of shear-thinning and elasticity on the generation of main droplets and satellite droplets were analyzed. The key scientific problems to be solved in the process of non-Newtonian fluids droplet generation were pointed out, providing reference for further simulation and experimental research.

Key words: microchannels, droplet, non-Newtonian fluids, elasticity, shear-thinning

摘要：

微流体技术良好的可控性为制备均一可控的微液滴提供了新的途径，而非牛顿流体因广泛的应用而受到关注。综述了近年来剪切变稀和黏弹性两类典型非牛顿流体中液滴生成机理的研究进展。围绕流动聚焦型和T型微通道两种典型微通道构型，介绍了非牛顿流体分别作为分散相和连续相时液滴生成过程的界面演化动力学，并与牛顿流体液滴生成过程进行了对比，分析了剪切变稀特性和弹性对主液滴和卫星液滴生成的影响。展望了非牛顿流体液滴生成过程待解决的关键科学问题，为进一步的模拟和实验研究提供了借鉴和参考。

关键词: 微通道, 液滴, 非牛顿流体, 弹性, 剪切变稀

CLC Number:

TQ 021.1

LIU Xiyang, FU Taotao, ZHU Chunying, MA Youguang. Progress on droplet formation mechanism in non-Newtonian fluids in microchannels[J]. CIESC Journal, 2021, 72(2): 772-782.

刘西洋, 付涛涛, 朱春英, 马友光. 微通道内非牛顿流体中液滴生成机理研究进展[J]. 化工学报, 2021, 72(2): 772-782.

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