Hi all,

I'm trying to create shallow microfluidic channels that are covered by a
thin, elastomeric membrane (both channel and membrane are only several
microns high).  I initially tried using the usual PDMS formulations to make
the membrane, but they are so flimsy that they immediately collapse into the
channel.  I increased the cross-linking of the PDMS (see Schmid and Michel,
*Macromolecules* 2000, 33, 3042), but the membrane still wasn't stiff
enough, and it was too brittle.

Ideally, I'd like a material with the following properties

-silicone material
-heat curable
-young's modulus >= 100 MPa
-not too brittle

The closest candidate that I can find is Dow-Corning's WL-5150
photopatternable PDMS.  If anyone has used this compound, do you think I
could spin-coat a thin film of it onto a silanized silicon wafer and be able
to peel it off after curing, or is this material also too brittle?

Is there another compound out there that might do the trick?


Thanks in advance,

Joshua Tice

Graduate Research Assistant
Kenis Research Group
Dept. of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Roger Adams Laboratory, Room 216A, Box C3
600 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
217-333-2442 (office)
217-244-8068 (fax)