Fluidic systems, devices and methods for inducing anisotropy in polymeric materials

A fluidic device for forming a polymer sheet from a polymer liquid while applying flow constriction thereto, comprising:

• a polymer distribution fluidic network comprising a plurality of polymer distribution microfluidic or mesofluidic channels, said polymer distribution microfluidic or mesofluidic channels comprising laterally arrayed outlets arranged to form the polymer solution liquid sheet when a polymer solution is provided to a proximal inlet of said polymer distribution fluidic network;
• a first flow-confining distribution fluidic network comprising a plurality of first flow-confining microfluidic or mesofluidic channels, said first flow-confining microfluidic or mesofluidic channels comprising laterally arrayed outlets arranged to form a first flow-confining liquid sheet when a flow-confining solution is provided to a proximal inlet of said first flow-confining distribution fluidic network;
• a second flow-confining distribution fluidic network comprising a plurality of second flow-confining microfluidic or mesofluidic channels, said second flow-confining microfluidic or mesofluidic channels comprising laterally arrayed outlets arranged to form a second flow-confining liquid sheet when the flow-confining solution is provided to a proximal inlet of said second flow-confining distribution fluidic network;
• a first flow conduit having an inlet in flow communication with said laterally arrayed outlets of said polymer distribution fluidic network, said laterally arrayed outlets of said first flow-confining distribution fluidic network and said laterally arrayed outlets of said second flow-confining distribution fluidic network, wherein distal portions of said polymer distribution fluidic network, said first flow-confining distribution fluidic network and said second flow-confining distribution fluidic network are arranged in a stacked configuration along a stacking direction, such that a layered flow is formed within said first flow conduit when the flow-confining solution is provided to said proximal inlets of said first flow-confining distribution fluidic network and said second flow-confining distribution fluidic network, the layered flow comprising the polymer solution liquid sheet, contacted and sheathed on opposing sides thereof by the first flow-confining liquid sheet and the second flow-confining liquid sheet;
• and
• a second flow conduit having an inlet in flow communication with an outlet of said first flow conduit, said second flow conduit having a height, as determined along the stacking direction, that is less than the height of said first flow conduit, and said second flow conduit having a cross-sectional area, perpendicular to a flow direction, that is less than a cross-sectional area of said first flow conduit, the second flow conduit thereby forming a flow constriction suitable for reducing a thickness of the polymer liquid sheet via hydrodynamic focusing as the layered flow flows into and through said second flow conduit.