Polydimethylsiloxane, sometimes known as PDMS, is a silicone-type polymer that is widely utilised for a variety of uses. The repeating Si-O group-containing siloxane unit is what gives silicones their distinctive properties. The silicon atom can be bonded to a broad variety of side groups. They are methyl groups CH3 in PDMS. Can be connected to the polymer in a variety of ways via different chain ends. Frequently, this is the Si-SH3 trimethylsiloxyl group. Hexamethyl disiloxane HMDSO is the shortest dimethysiloxane monomer-free dimethysiloxane molecule and is crucial as a process gas for hydrophobic plasma coating. Up to very high molecular weights, PDMS linear polymers are liquid. They can, however, be crosslinked to provide elastomeric characteristics. PDMS is a nearly inert polymer that has a great resistance to oxidation, but it may also be utilised as an electric insulator in biological micro-analytics and organic electronics (micro-electronics or polymer electronics). In the area of micro-fluidic systems, low-pressure plasma with PDMS is frequently used; in this case, the client structures a specific polydimethysiloxane (such Sylgard 184) to suit the particular application. The PDMS chip can then be permanently connected to a glass plate, a silicon surface, or another substrate after undergoing a plasma treatment.
Benefits of pre-treating micro-fluidic systems with plasma:
Micro-fluidic systems have the following uses: