Lateral migration and focusing of microspheres in a microchannel flow of viscoelastic fluids

Abstract

The lateral migration of microspheres across streamlines induced by elasticity and inertia in a square microchannel flow of viscoelastic fluids is investigated using a holographic microscopy technique. We experimentally demonstrate the exact particle positions driven by the elasticity of fluid in the channel cross-section. The effects of the blockage ratio, flow rate, and shear-thinning property of the viscoelastic fluids on particle migration are evaluated. In particular, the focusing patterns of microspheres in three-dimensional volume are analyzed under different conditions, namely, dominant inertia, dominant elasticity, and the combined effects of inertia and elasticity.