]> http://www.4m-net.org/taxonomy/term/708/0 en http://www.4m-net.org/KnowledgeBase/papers/A-new-approach-in-polymer-waveguide-fabrication <p>Severin Dahms, Frederik Bundgaard and Oliver Geschke<br /> MIC - Department of Micro and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Building 345 East, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark</p> <h3 >Abstract</h3> <p>Waveguides are an excellent means of integrating sensor components in single use microfluidic polymer systems. However, most processes for producing on-chip waveguides require several process steps, some of which are not suited for mass production. We report a simple procedure in which two different grades of the cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) Topas® are used as substrate and core layer. In a spin coating process a Topas® grade with high refractive index is spin coated onto the injection moulded substrate with lower refractive index, thereby generating a core layer. A simple hot embossing process enables simultaneous structuring of waveguides and microfluidic channels in the core layer. In a final step the microfluidic structures can be closed with a lid, either by thermal bonding or by laser transmission welding.</p> <p>The refractive index and glass transition temperature Tg can be altered by changing the ratio between the two copolymers of Topas®. The low optical transmission loss of the material, along with its chemical resistance and low water absorption, makes Topas® a good choice for making integrated optics in microfluidic systems.</p> COC cyclo olefin copolymer hot embossing Hot/UV embossing Micro-fluidics polymers Topas® COC waveguides Mon, 19 May 2008 14:44:46 +0100