Thermoplastic Materials for Microfluidic Devices
COC, PMMA and PC for injection-molded microfluidic components.
Micromolds helps engineers evaluate thermoplastic materials from a manufacturing perspective — considering part geometry, microfeatures, tooling, injection molding, bonding and production requirements.
Why Material Selection Matters in Microfluidics
Thermoplastic materials used for microfluidic devices differ in optical properties, chemical compatibility, dimensional stability, mechanical performance and processing behavior.​ These differences can influence both device performance and manufacturability.
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For injection-molded microfluidics, material choice can also affect the replication of small features, dimensional consistency and downstream bonding.
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At Micromolds, we evaluate materials primarily from a manufacturing perspective — helping engineers determine how the selected polymer fits the proposed design and production process.
What to Consider When Choosing a Microfluidic Material
There is no single thermoplastic that is suitable for every microfluidic device.
The right choice depends on the requirements of the specific product and its manufacturing process.
Optical Requirements
Chemical Compatibility
Dimensional Performance
Thermal Requirements
Manufacturing & Bonding
How Material Properties Affect Microfluidic Manufacturing
Material properties should be considered together rather than individually. A polymer that performs well in one area may introduce limitations in another.
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For molded microfluidic components, this balance can influence part consistency, process development and the transition toward repeatable production.
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Considering these requirements early helps reduce unnecessary design changes before production tooling is finalized.
Microfluidic Materials We Work With
Our primary thermoplastics for microfluidic manufacturing are COC, PMMA and PC.
Other thermoplastics can be evaluated depending on the requirements of the component and manufacturing process.
COC
COC is widely used for polymer microfluidic components where optical performance and dimensional stability are important.
âś” Excellent optical clarity
âś” Extremely low moisture absorption
âś” Outstanding dimensional stabilit
PMMA
PMMA is a transparent thermoplastic used for microfluidic components requiring good optical clarity and dimensional accuracy.
âś” Excellent transparency
âś” Easy to machine and bond
âś” Cost-effective
âś” Good optical quality
âś” Suitable for many analytical applications
PC
PC combines transparency with good mechanical performance and can be used for injection-molded microfluidic components.
âś” High mechanical strength
âś” Good dimensional stability
âś” Higher temperature resistance
âś” Suitable for demanding environments
Other Thermoplastics
Need a different thermoplastic?
Other engineering polymers can be evaluated based on your part geometry, feature requirements, production volume and manufacturing process.
Already Have a Material Selected?
Our engineers can review the selected thermoplastic together with your part geometry, microfeatures, tooling, injection molding and bonding requirements.
Still comparing material options? We can discuss their implications for the manufacturing process before production tooling is finalized.
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