Polycarbonate microfluidic articles
View Patent ↗Microfluidic devices, and methods for their use are described. The microfluidic devices include articles formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate comprising soft block ester units, derived from monomers comprising an alpha, omega C 6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof, a dihydroxyaromatic compound, and a carbonate source.
1. A microfluidic device, comprising
a fluid sample in a channel or microwell that includes a wall having a fabricated thickness of less than or equal to 1 mm formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising:
a poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate comprising soft block ester units, derived from monomers comprising:
an alpha, omega C 6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof,
a dihydroxyaromatic compound, and
a carbonate source.
2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the alpha, omega C 6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof comprises sebacic acid.
3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the fabricated dimension is 0.005 to 1 mm.
4. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the fabricated dimension is 0.01 to 0.5 mm.
5. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the fabricated dimension is 0.05 to 0.2 mm.
6. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate is of the formula (6b)
wherein m is 4 to 18, x and y each represent average weight percentages of the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate wherein the average weight percentage ratio x:y is 10:90 to 1:99, wherein x+y is 100, and each R 3 is independently derived from a dihydroxyaromatic compound of formula (3)
wherein R a and R b are each independently a halogen, C 1-12 alkoxy, or C 1-12 alkyl; X a is a single bond, —O—, —S—, —S(O) 2 —, —S(O) 2 —, —C(O)—, or a C 1-18 organic group; and p and q are each independently integers of 0 to 4 or formula (5)
wherein each R h is independently a halogen atom, a C 1-10 hydrocarbyl such as a C 1-10 alkyl group, a halogen-substituted C 1-10 alkyl group, a C 6-10 aryl group, or a halogen-substituted C 6-10 aryl group, and n is 0 to 4.
7. The microfluidic device of claim 6 , wherein the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate is of formula (6c)
wherein m is 4 to 18 and wherein the average weight percentage ratio x:y is 10:90 to 1:99, wherein x+y is 100.
8. The microfluidic device of claim 6 , wherein m is 8.
9. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has a melt flow rate of 66 to 150 g/10 min at 300° C. under a load of 1.2 kilograms according to ASTM D1238-10.
10. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has an HDT is 80 to 140° C. at 0.45 mega Pascal (MPa) with an unannealed 3.2 mm plaque according to ASTM D648-07.
11. The microfluidic device of claim 10 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has a Notched Izod Impact (NII) ductility of 30 to 100%, with a ⅛-inch thick bar (3.18 mm) at 23° C. according to ASTM D256-10.
12. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has an HDT is 80 to 140° C. at 1.82 mega Pascal (MPa) with an unannealed 3.2 mm plaque according to ASTM D648-07.
13. The microfluidic device of claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has a Notched Izod Impact (NII) ductility of 30 to 100%, with a ⅛-inch thick bar (3.18 mm) at 23° C. according to ASTM D256-10.
14. The microfluidic device method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has a Notched Izod Impact (NII) ductility of 30 to 100%, with ⅛-inch thick bars (3.18 mm) at 23° C. according to ASTM D256-10.
15. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the article has a Notched Izod Impact (NII) of 400 to 700 Joules per meter (J/m) with ⅛-inch thick bars (3.18 mm) at 23° C. according to ASTM D256-10.
16. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a PCR microwell device.
17. The microfluidic device of claim 16 , wherein the PCR microwell device is a microwell sample container or a microwell cap.
18. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is at a process temperature of at least 90° C.
19. The microfluidic device of claim 18 , wherein the process temperature is less than or equal to 120° C.
20. The microfluidic device of claim 18 , wherein the process temperature is less than or equal to 110° C.
21. The microfluidic device of claim 18 , wherein the process temperature is at least 95° C.
22. The microfluidic device of claim 18 , wherein the process temperature is from 95° C. to 105° C.
23. The microfluidic device of claim 18 , wherein the process temperature is from 95° C. to 100° C.
24. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate is derived from monomers consisting essentially of:
the alpha, omega C 6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof,
the dihydroxyaromatic compound, and
the carbonate source.
25. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the channel or microwell is a PCR microwell.
26. A PCR microwell plate, comprising the PCR microwell of claim 25 .
27. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the wall having a fabricated thickness of less than or equal to 1 mm is a wall having a molded thickness of less than or equal to 1 mm.
28. The microfluidic device of claim 27 , wherein the molded thickness is 0.005 to 1 mm.
29. The microfluidic device of claim 27 , wherein the molded thickness is 0.01 to 0.5 mm.
30. The microfluidic device of claim 27 , wherein the molded thickness is 0.05 to 0.2 mm.