Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

University of Toronto

Stephanie Grainger

Elliot L Chaikof

Axel Guenther

Lian Leng

David Miranda Nieves

Shashi Malladi

Richard M Cheng

Richard Yihsiu Cheng

Systems, devices and methods are provided for fabricating anisotropic polymer materials. According to various embodiments, a fluidic device is employed to distribute a polymer solution and a flow-confining solution in order to generate a layered flow, where the layered flow is formed such that a polymer liquid sheet is sheathed on opposing sides by flow-confining liquid sheets. The fluidic device includes first and second fluid conduits, where the first fluid conduit receives the layered flow. The second fluid conduit has a reduced height relative to the first fluid conduit, such that the layered flow is constricted as it flows through the second fluid conduit. The constriction formed by the second flow conduit causes hydrodynamic focusing, reducing the thickness of the polymer liquid sheet, and inducing molecular alignment and anisotropy within the polymer liquid sheet as it is hardened and as strain is applied during extrusion of the sheet.

Fluidic systems, devices and methods for inducing anisotropy in polymeric materials

Growing community of inventors

Stoneham, MA, United States of America

Stephanie Grainger