Swirl mixer SW45 - fully transparent

Why use a micro fluidic mixer?

Microfluidic chips often operate laminar flow regime which are not ideal circumstances for mixing of liquids. Also, not all combinations from liquids mix as easily. This can result in the need for long mixing lengths or ineffective mixing. Mixing is sometimes also applied to create nanoparticles; such processes use chemical interaction between liquids that result in particle generation at liquid contact surfaces.  Micro mixers increase such liquid interaction and offer a relatively stable mixing condition which results in more controlled liquid interaction.

What are the advantages?

By adding mixing structures to a microfluidic setup or design the chip’s footprint can be reduced compared to incorporating just a long channel. Also, achievable mixings can be improved, which is often beneficial for results in subsequent analysis steps.

Nanoparticles with a much more contestant size distribution are created due to the highly controlled and predictable liquid interaction.

Swirl micromixers

• Ideal for: Liquids with higher Reynolds numbers (RE > 50).
• Mechanism: Fast downward spiral flow in "swirl chambers" that initiate mixing

• Fully transperent: The mixers are wet etched for optimal sight from both the top as bottom surface.Our etching process create ultra smooth surfaces.

Alternative mixer types
An overview page with alternative geometries can be found here.