Universal and Economical Experimental Platform for Colloidal Mixing Lab-on-Chip in Parabolic Flight

Supplementary Material for the Article: "Universal and Economical Experimental Platform for Colloidal Mixing Lab-on-Chip in Parabolic Flight"This study presents an economical experimental platform designed to investigate colloid and emulsion mixing under parabolic flight conditions. The compact 20 kg system integrates a modular fluidic device with real-time imaging capabilities to enable the observation of fluid interactions at the millimeter scale. The platform focusses on safety, like a double containment system, while remaining accessible for quick experimental modifications. Experiments using four distinct colloids, Thailand Lunar Simulant (TLS-01A), emulsions with Span 80 (50% v/v) and Tween 80 (10% v/v), and a control without additives, enabled analysis of surface tension and particle effects on mixing behavior. Through 29 experimental trials during parabolic flight cycles, each with approximately 20 seconds of microgravity, the system captured fluid dynamics at 240 frames per second. The platform enables future research to observe effects of surfactant and mixer geometry in real-world scale, with potential for improvements in automation and imaging capabilities.