The most popular PDMS formulation for microfluidic chip fabrication, thanks to its unique properties: high transparency, low surface energy, biocompatibility, and good chemical resistance. Sylgard 184 PDMS can be molded into a variety of shapes and sizes using soft lithography techniques, such as microfluidic channel networks or microvalves, which can be used to control the flow of fluids within the device
Due to ongoing supply chain constraints, Sylgard 184 (1.1 kg) is currently available only with a 6-month shelf life (exp. July).
General
Sylgard 184 is a popular silicone elastomer used for the fabrication of microfluidic chips. It is made from a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and curing agents, and can be cured at relatively low temperatures to provide good thermal and mechanical stability, excellent optical clarity, and good chemical resistance. This makes it ideal for researchers and engineers looking to create their own designs.
The soft-lithography process using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer involves the following steps:
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Design and fabrication of the mold which will be used to create the desired pattern or shape on the PDMS elastomer.
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Preparation of the PDMS elastomer by mixing the PDMS base and curing agent in the correct ratio (usually 10:1) and degassing the mixture to remove any trapped air bubbles.
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Casting the PDMS elastomer over the mold and curing at a specific temperature and time to allow it to solidify.
- Peeling off the PDMS elastomer: once cured, it can be easily peeled off the mold.
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Bonding the patterned PDMS piece to a glass slide, for instance, using oxygen plasma activation, to create a fluid-tight seal.
Some common uses of PDMS in microfluidics include:
- Droplet generation chips: generate droplets using various techniques to break up the fluid stream into droplets, such as by using a pressure gradient or by using a flow-focusing mechanism.
- Cell culture: fabricate microfluidic devices for cell culture applications, such as cell migration, differentiation, and drug screening.
- Mixing and separation: fabricate microfluidic devices for mixing and separating biological samples, based on size or charge.
- Drug delivery: to fabricate microfluidic devices for controlled drug delivery.
- Analytical chemistry: PDMS can be used to fabricate microfluidic devices for analytical chemistry applications, such as DNA sequencing or protein analysis.
Content
1.1 kg Kit:
5.5 kg Kit:
Specifications
| Material |
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) |
| Conditioning |
1 kg base + 0.1 kg curing agent
5 kg base + 0.5 kg curing agent
Mixing ratio 10:1 |
| Viscosity |
3.5 Pa.s (3500 cP) |
| Durometer |
43 Shore A |
| Color |
Transparent |
| Refractive Index |
1.4118 @ 589 nm |
| Curing Temperature |
25 - 150 °C (77 - 302 °F) |
| Typical Lifetime |
1 year |
Documentation
Technical Datasheet
Safety Datasheet Base
Safety Datasheet Curing Agent
