Microfluidics

The miniaturisation of fluid systems has developed considerably in recent years and is now having a major impact on our daily lives, opening up new opportunities for applications that now affect all fields.

Chemical, medical and biological analyses require the handling of fluid samples with volumes in the picolitre range. Labs-on-a-chip have begun to conquer biological and medical laboratories. Miniaturised heat exchangers, micromixers and microreactors now enable chemicals to be produced in situ, leading to changes in traditional production methods. The aerospace and automotive industries, as well as biotechnology and medical applications, are benefiting from the increased possibilities and advantages offered by the use of micro-fluidic systems. Sensors and systems for chemical analysis or treatment can be integrated into miniature devices, extending their use to new areas.

The technology is complex and requires precise knowledge of the behaviour of fluid flows, heat transfers and various processes within miniaturised structures of varying complexity.

The problem of fluid mechanics, which takes account of specific micro-scale phenomena, is often coupled with a variety of problems relating to heat, chemistry, micromechanics, electronics, optics, etc.

Today, microfluidics is a highly multidisciplinary field of research that is constantly evolving.