Investigation of flow through P[NIPAM/MMA] copolymer coated glass capillary tubes, and glass copolymer adhesion improvements with hydrofluoric acid etching

This study aims to display the retention of the thermo-responsive properties of the copolymer poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-methyl methacrylate) [P(NIPAM/MMA)] when coated on the inner diameter of a glass capillary tube, and to prove the stability of the copolymer coating when subjected to pressure driven fluid flow. The study shows that the fluid flow through such a capillary tube follows Hagen-Poiseuille flow. Furthermore, this study examines methods of improving polymer adhesion to glass by hydrofluoric acid etching. Such a coated tube system is applicable in drug delivery, self cleaning tubes, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).