Microfluidics with complex fluids: the effects of wall depletion

BERLI , CLAUDIO L. A.

Granada

Workshop; First Workshop on Advances in Colloidal Materials; 2011

Universidad d eGranada

The advent of microfluidics lead to a renewed interest on the dynamics of complex fluids in small confinements. The primary motivation is the necessity to manipulate biofluids and other structured liquids in lab-on-a-chip [1]. In addition, the facilities of the new microfluidic technology enable the observation of phenomena that take place at the microscopic level, leading to new discoveries [2]. In fact, the behaviours exhibited by complex fluids in microchannels are not only due to the non-Newtonian character, but also to particular physical effects of the micro/nano scale. In this context, the present work discusses the influence wall depletion, which is specially relevant for interfacial phenomena, notably in electrokinetics.