Microfluidic Device Tests Fluid Compatibility

National Institute of Standards and Technology Public Release, 14 Apr 2006 The key to a great party is inviting guests who mix well and don't instill tension among their fellow revelers. The key to a great detergent, cosmetic, paint or other complex liquid product is pretty much the same -- include components that mix well and don't have high levels of what scientists call "interfacial tension," a tendency to bead up and pull away from each other. To help industrial engineers improve their ability to systematically test new product formulations, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a microfluidic instrument that quickly measures interfacial tension. Read more