SPI Supplies^® Brand Carbon Fiber and Thread for Carbon Coaters

SPI High Purity carbon fiber and thread

Available in a full range of fiber diameters for virtually all possible carbon coating requirements!

Carbon coating of specimens is essential to conduct charge away from the area being analyzed in the SEM. The SPI Module™ carbon coater and many other carbon coaters use carbon fiber as the source of carbon for evaporation. The SPI Module carbon coater as well as the carbon coaters of certain other manufacturers also have optional carbon rod heads, but the use of carbon fiber is the preferred mode of evaporation. SPI Supplies carbon fiber products are made from graphite fiber which has been specially purified to reduce impurities to the low ppm range. The microscopist is assured of spectra which are free from compositional artifacts from the carbon coating.

The product line has recently been expanded from the original two carbon fiber products to four.

Thick fiber (and original product):
Sometimes in some countries called a "braid", the "thick fiber" consists of eight separate strands of individual carbon fiber braided together (in comparison, the original thin "thread" contains three strands twisted together). The fiber is processed so that when cut, the ends resist unraveling. The density of the fiber is about 1.6g/meter. We have always and still do recommend this thick fiber (braid) for general use in the SPI Module™ carbon coater. We also recommend this fiber product for use with carbon coaters manufactured by Quorum Technologies, Agar Scientific, and Emitech, plus others that at one time carried the names of Polaron, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Fisons Instruments and Technics.

Smaller thick fiber (a new product)
This fiber product is a bit thinner than the above "thick" fiber and has a density of 0.7g/meter and the nominal diameter of 1.3 mm. It was developed for those who are using the above carbon coaters but who desire a thinner carbon coating on their samples, generally being those instances where flat surfaces are being coated. For example, this would not be the fiber to use if you were coating a rough fracture surface.

Thin thread (original product)
This product consists of a twisted design where three of the basic fibers strands have been twisted together to make the final thread. The density is about 0.25g/meter and the diameter about 1.0 mm. We recommend this diameter fiber for use in carbon coaters manufactured by Denton Vacuum, Inc., Ernest F. Fullam Inc., and Leybold Vacuum Products Inc. as well as others.

Smaller thin thread (a new product)
We have for a number of years offered our thin carbon thread but some users found that they needed to have an even thinner coating. The density is 0.4g/meter and a nominal diameter of 0.8 mm. So we have introduced this fiber for those wanting a thicker coating than would otherwise be possible with the thin carbon thread (see below).

We find that there is a range of preferences depending on the specifics of the samples being coated, the details of the operation of specific carbon coaters, and therefore many laboratories tend to keep at least a few packs of all of the different carbon fiber diameters. For most carbon coaters, and many users, it is difficult to control the thickness (relative to a vacuum evaporator) and by selecting more carefully and precisely the diameter/density of the fiber, one can obtain much more highly reproducible coating thicknesses.

But one should pay attention to the recommendation of the manufacturer of their units and at least use that recommended diameter of fiber as a starting point from which one can use either a thicker or thinner fiber.

Note: All four carbon fiber products in the SPI Supplies carbon fiber range are treated with a proprietary process so that the ends, when cut, resist unraveling, something very important for anyone who has ever attempted to string a segment of carbon fiber across the posts of the typical carbon fiber head.

When "shopping" for carbon fiber, do you need a replacement gold sputter coater cathode as well?
For the same shipping charges, you could have delivered with your carbon fiber a replacement gold or other precious metal cathode for your sputter coater.

Thick fiber (and original product)
This is the original high purity thick carbon fiber that is already in use in numerous laboratories worldwide. Recommended for use in carbon coaters manufactured by Quorum Technologies, Agar Scientific, Cressington and Emitech, plus others that at one time carried the names of Polaron, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Fisons Instruments and Technics.

Diameter: ~ 2 mm

Quantity	SPI #	Each	10+, Each	In Stock
1 m	11431-AB	$ 19.50	$ 17.55	Yes
Pkg/10	11431-BA	159.59	143.63	Yes

Smaller thick fiber (a new product)
This carbon fiber is recommended for those coating flat surfaces and desiring less thickness of the coating. This is also the recommended fiber thickness and structure recommended for use in the Leybold Vacuum Products Inc. Coating System Model ScanCoate 6.

Diameter: ~ 1.3 mm

Quantity	SPI #	Each	10+, Each	In Stock
1 m	11436-AB	$ 21.96	$ 19.76	Yes
Pkg/10	11436-BA	197.64	177.88	No

Smaller thin thread (a new product)
This carbon fiber product is designed for those carbon coaters that themselves were originally designed to use the thin carbon thread. This is the carbon fiber thickness preferred by some users of Emitech carbon coating devices but others prefer SPI #11436-AB or even thickest product, SPI #11431. Apparently, the Emitech units are sufficient versatile to be able to handle all three thicknesses for variable carbon coating thicknesses, especially the Model K 450.

Diameter: 1.0 mm

Quantity	SPI #	Each	10+, Each	In Stock
1 m	11435-AB	$ 20.86	$ 18.77	No
Pkg/10	11435-BA	187.76	168.98	No

Thin thread (original product)
This is the original high purity carbon fiber thread that has been manufactured and sold by SPI Supplies for year and years. We recommend this diameter carbon thread for carbon coaters manufactured by Denton Vacuum, Inc., Ernest F. Fullam Inc., and certain models of Leybold Vacuum Products Inc. as well as others.

Diameter: ~ 0.8 mm

Quantity	SPI #	Each	10+, Each	In Stock
1 m	11433-AB	$ 13.45	$ 12.11	Yes
Pkg/10	11433-BA	109.54	98.59	No

To Ask a Question or Make a Comment

To Place an Order or Request a Quote

Return to:

Tuesday February 09, 2010 © Copyright 1995 - 2010. By Structure Probe, Inc.
Contacting SPI Supplies and Structure Probe, Inc.
All rights reserved.
All trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
Privacy Policy

Worldwide Distributors, Representatives, and Agents Flag logo

SPI Supplies® Brand Carbon Fiber and Thread for Carbon Coaters

SPI Supplies^® Brand Carbon Fiber and Thread for Carbon Coaters