With its turbo molecular pump, the Vacu Prep II can achieve excellent base vacuum levels in a short period of time. Typical pump down cycles (10-5) are achieved in under 10 minutes for a typical carbon coating on TEM grids. Use of the liquid nitrogen trap increases the rate of pump down to even higher vacuum.

Typical Applications:

• Electron Microscopy Sample Preparation
• High-Vacuum Carbon Coating for TEM and X-Ray Analysis
• Resistance Evaporation of Metallic Compounds
• Carbon Support Films
• Carbon Platinum Replicas
• Rotary Shadowing
• Aperture Cleaning
• Asbestos Analysis
• Failure Analysis

More information is available on our website.

All mica is not the same and the only mica offered by SPI Supplies is of the highest quality of muscovite because of the applications of our typical customer. SPI Supplies’ mica, cut into strips, discs, and sheets, is widely used by researchers worldwide.

Mica is classified into various grades as described and defined by ASTM Standard D351. This method is based on the well-established optical properties of mica and provides the basis for which we offer these grades for EM and AFM use.

For carbon support film production and even thin film coatings research, grade V-5 is typically more than adequate. It is low in cost and persons who have used it have reported satisfactory results. It is also popular as a substrate for dispersing fine colloidal particles prior to microscopic preparation or Pt/C shadowing.

For AFM studies, and for those making either carbon films or doing thin film coating research and wanting a higher quality mica as defined as having fewer “steps” on a freshly cleaved surface, we would recommend grade V-4. This grade is also great for use with AFM where a polar substrate is desired or where polarity of the substrate just does not matter.

For AFM calibration studies or perhaps the ultimate substrate for carbon film production, we offer the grade V-1. It is of a relatively high in cost, comparison to the other grades, but is still relatively inexpensive as compared to other substrates and can be used as a substrate material for general applications.

Mica can also be used as a substrate for binding cells to be characterized by TEM. It is generally best to “silanize” the mica before doing the actual experiments. With this approach, the plastic can be peeled away from the mica with little to no mica residue left behind.

Keep in mind that we are talking about freshly cleaved surfaces, not the “as received” surfaces. Cleaving mica is an easy process, but does require some practice. Check out our video on producing freshly cleaved mica.

Remember that SPI Supplies is one of the largest suppliers of mica to the microscopy and thin film coatings research market. If you do not see your size, thickness, or grade listed on our website, let us know what you need. We can generally make whatever is required, and without gigantic minimum quantities.

Learn about cleaving mica.

SPI Supplies Mica Products

We’d like to wish everyone happy holidays and a happy new year.

This designation continues to establish SPI Supplies as the leading independent supplier of Castrol Direct Market products in the USA and worldwide.

As part of this program, SPI Supplies has also added 21 new Brayco & Braycote products which we had not sold previously.

You can find our full line of Brayco & Braycote products on our website.

SPI Supplies looks forward to meeting all of your Brayco & Braycote vacuum grease needs.

Let us know what you think. Your opinion is important to us as we continue to improve this site for your ease of use. Contact us at with your comments.

The Team at SPI Supplies