Introduction to BioMEMS & Medical Microdevices

Polymer Materials
Companion lecture to the textbook: Fundamentals of BioMEMS and Medical Microdevices, by
Dr. Steven S. Saliterman
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Polymer Composite Biomaterials
Ramakrishna and et al. 2001
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Advantages of Polymers
1. Improved and easier machinability.
2. Optical transparency for certain detection
strategies
3. Biocompatibility.
4. Acceptable thermal and electrical properties.
5. Ability to enclose high-aspect-ratio
microstructures.
6. Ability for surface modification and
functionalization.
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Polymerization
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Addition polymerization:
Initiation,
Free radicals,
Propagation,
Termination.
Step-growth polymerization:
Condensation polymers
Photopolymerization
Photoinitiators.
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Physical Properties
Mechanical
Electrical
Optical
Thermodynamic
Kinetic
Heat Transport
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Mechanical Properties
Thermoplastics
Liquid Crystal Polymers
Rubbers or elastomers
Lightly Crosslinked
Thermosets
Heavily crosslinked
Cure
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Viscoelasticity
Bower 2002
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Hookes Law

=
is the tensile stress (force/unit cross section),
is Young's modulus of the material, and
is the linear strain ( length/initial length).
Where
E
e
Ee

Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP

Deviation from Ideal Elasticity
Time and Temperature dependency of
response:
Boltzmann superposition principle.
Yield or non-recovery of strain.
Non-linearity of response.
Large strains without fracture:
Ductile fracture,
Brittle fracture,
Crack initiation and propagation,
Crazing.
Anisotropy of response.
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Electrical Properties
Dielectric
Electrically conducting
Ion-conducting
Ferroelectric
Piezoelectric
Photoelectric
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Dielectric Constant
The dielectric constant or relative
permittivity of a polymer is defined as
follows:
=
0
V
V

Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP

Electrical Conductivity
Intrinsically conductive based on -
electron conjugation.
Incorporated particles.
Ion-impregnated (e.g. LiClO
4
-
impregnated poly(ethylene oxide).
-electron conjugation (e.g.
poly(silanes).
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Semiconductor Doping
Jastrzebski 1976
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Polymer Conduction
H
C
C
H
H
C
trans-Polyacetylene
C
H
H
C
C
H
C
H
2
H
2
C
C
H
2
H
2
C
C
H
2
H
2
C
C
H
2
H
2
C
C
H
2
H
2
C
Polyethyelene
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Polarons, Biopolarons & Solitons
Mitchell 2004]
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Copolymers
+
*
*
x
y
n
Cyclic olefin monomer Ethylene
Cyclic olefin copolymer
Catalyst
Steven S. Saliterman, MD, FACP
Summary
Polymers are attractive for bioMEMS:
Improved and easier machinability.
Optical transparency for certain detection strategies
Biocompatibility.
Acceptable thermal and electrical properties.
Ability to enclose high-aspect-ratio microstructures.
Ability for surface modification and functionalization.
Soft fabrication techniques often utilize
polymer materials, both synthetic and natural.
Biopolymers, including DNA and proteins are
natural polymers.