The current work investigates two
phase flow visualization in a micro channel using micron resolution particle
image velocimetry (μPIV). Droplets of both oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions were generated in a T-shaped PDMS micro fluidic device and the corresponding flow fields were measured down-stream in the divergent section of the device.
The oil-in-water emulsions were formed in a hydrophilic ally
modified PDMS micro channel using plasma polymerization of acrylic acid. To obtain the velocity fields in both types of emulsions, fluorescent particles of
0.86 m size were added into the dispersed water phase in the case of
water-in-oil emulsions, and in the continuous water phase in the case of
oil-in-water emulsions. The phenomena of flow behavior within the droplets and
around the droplets were investigated in detail in a diverging micro channel.