Plug-and-play microvalve and micropump for rapid integration with microfluidic chips

This paper reports design, fabrication, and characterization of an air-actuated microvalve and a micropump made of thermoplastic materials. The bonding process was carried out by thermal fusion process with no particular surface treatment. The developed microvalve was used as a reversible switch for controlling both liquid flow and electrical field. Bonding strength of the fabricated microvalves could withstand liquid and air pressures of up to 600 kPa with no burst failure. The micropump made of three connected microvalves, actuated by compressed air, could generate a liquid flow rate of up to 85 µl/min. The proposed microvalve and micropump can be used as pre-fabricated off-the-shelf microfluidic functional elements for easy and rapid integration with thermoplastic microfluidic circuitries in a plug-and-play arrangement.