Development of a MEMS based Dynamic Rheometer

Published

August 31, 2010

Author(s)

Gordon Christopher, Jae M. Yoo, Nicholas G. Dagalakis, Steven D. Hudson, Kalman D. Migler

Abstract

Rheological methods that interrogate nano-liter scale volumes of fluids and solids have advanced considerably over the past decade, yet there remains a need for methods that probe the frequency dependent complex rheological moduli through application of homogenous strain fields. Here we describe a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based approach for the measurement of dynamic rheology of soft matter where oscillatory strain is produced in a sample sandwiched between an oscillating MEMs stage and a glass plate. The resulting stress-strain relationships are revealed by measurement and analysis of the stage motion. We present preliminary data on simple viscous fluids and on viscoelastic thin films. In this proof-of-principle device, we measure moduli in the range of 50 Pa to 10 kPa over a range of 3 - 3000 rad/s using less than 5 nL of sample material; the device s measurement window is limited primarily by our current ability to measure the motion of the stage. This device will provide a new way to characterize dynamic microrheology of an array of novel materials that will prove useful in a number of areas including biorheology, microfluidics and polymer thin films.

Citation

Lab on A Chip

Volume

10

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Microrheology, complex fluids, soft matter, MEMS

Citation

Christopher, G. , Yoo, J. , Dagalakis, N. , Hudson, S. and Migler, K. (2010), Development of a MEMS based Dynamic Rheometer, Lab on A Chip, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=905352 (Accessed October 10, 2025)