Apparatus and method for measuring the elasticity of microfibers at high throughput

A method useful for high throughput elasticity measurement of microfibers, the method comprising:

• producing a microfiber having an elastic modulus (E) at a throughput greater than 1 mm per second;
• coiling the microfiber to create a coiled microfiber having a coil radius (Rcoil);
• recording a measurement of Rcoil;
• calculating E from Rcoil;
• and
• uncoiling the coiled microfiber.

A system useful for high throughput elasticity measurement of microfibers, the system comprising:

• a coiling device configured and adapted for operable connection to a fiber making device;
• a coil measurement device configured and adapted to capture a coil radius (Rcoil) measurement of a coil created by the coiling device;
• and a coil measurement calibration device configured and adapted to convert Rcoil to a fiber elasticity value (E);
• wherein the coiling device is configured and adapted to receive a flow of a process fluid and a movement of a fiber from a connected fiber making device through an upstream portion to a downstream portion, the coiling device comprising a first capillary forming a small channel in the upstream portion and a second capillary forming a wide channel in the downstream portion;
• wherein the second capillary is connected to and abruptly enlarged from the first capillary;
• wherein the first capillary is configured and adapted to approximate the flow of the process fluid and the movement of the fiber from the connected fiber making device, and the second capillary is configured and adapted to create a condition of axial compression in the fiber sufficient to induce coiling under specified conditions and to form the fiber into a coiled fiber;
• and
• wherein the coil measurement device is a non-destructive, non-contact, image based, real time measurement device;
• wherein the coil measurement calibration device is configured and adapted to convert Rcoil to E based on a linear relationship between Rcoil and E;
• and
• wherein the linear relationship comprises a slope determined according to Rcoil of the coiled fiber.

A system useful for high throughput elasticity measurement of a target microfiber, the system comprising:

• a rope-coiling device configured and adapted to induce rope-coiling in the target microfiber, thereby creating a coiled microfiber;
• a measurement device configured and adapted to measure one or more physical properties of the coiled microfiber within the rope-coiling device, thereby creating a coiled microfiber measurement;
• and
• a calibration device configured and adapted to convert the coiled microfiber measurement to a microfiber elasticity measurement.

A method useful for high throughput elasticity measurement of a target microfiber, the method comprising:

• rope-coiling the target microfiber in a chamber, thereby creating a coiled microfiber;
• measuring one or more physical properties of the coiled microfiber within the chamber, thereby creating a coiled microfiber measurement;
• and
• converting the coiled microfiber measurement to a microfiber elasticity measurement.

A microfluidic method useful for high throughput elasticity measurement of a target microfiber, the method comprising:

• rope-coiling a solidified section of the target microfiber in a microfluidic chamber, thereby creating a coiled microfiber section;
• measuring, by a microfluidic sensor, a coil radius of the coiled microfiber section within the chamber, thereby creating a coiled microfiber measurement;
• converting the coiled microfiber measurement to a microfiber elasticity measurement;
• and
• uncoiling the coiled microfiber section.

A microfluidic system useful for high throughput elasticity measurement of a target microfiber, the system comprising:

• a microfluidic rope-coiling device configured and adapted to induce rope-coiling in a section of the target microfiber, thereby creating a coiled microfiber section;
• a microfluidic measurement device configured and adapted to measure a rope-coiling radius of the coiled microfiber section within the microfluidic rope-coiling device;
• and
• a calibration device configured and adapted to convert the rope-coiling radius to a microfiber elasticity measurement.