Carbon fiber threads for carbon evaporation

high purity carbon fiber threads for EM sample preparation

Introduction

High purity carbon fiber threads specially manufactured for use in carbon evaporators or carbon coating attachments. The carbon fibers have undergone a specific purification heat treatment to remove impurities. The result is a spectroscopically pure carbon fiber (99.95%) with a maximum impurity level of 5-10 ppm which is under the detection limit of EDS and/or WDS systems. The carbon fibers are processed in strands, which makes the threads. The threads are braided into carbon fiber cords. The carbon fiber threads have to be cut in length and attached to the holding post of the evaporator head. The carbon fiber braids resist unraveling at the ends when they are cut to length. The resulting carbon layer has similar properties as a carbon layer evaporated from carbon rods. However, the thickness of the carbon layer depends on the thickness of the carbon fiber threads.
Power requirements are approximately 20V/20A (lower than for carbon rods) depending on carbon thread diameter, but can vary depending on brand and type of carbon coater.

The carbon fiber threads are available in three different diameters/weights:

• Grade CT16 is a thicker carbon fiber thread with a diameter of 2.4mm and a weight of 1.6g/m. This is the most widely used carbon fiber thread. Recommended for carbon coaters made by Quorum, Emitec, EMS, SPI, Polaron, Fisons and Technics (Anatech/Hummer).
• Grade CT7 is a medium carbon fiber thread with a diameter of 1.3mm and a weight of 0.7g/m. Grade CT7 is compatible with the Leica ACE carbon coater. Also used for applications where a thinner layer is required when using carbon coaters made by Quorum, Emitec, EMS, SPI, Polaron, Fisons and Technics (Anatech/Hummer).
• Grade CT4 is a thin carbon fiber thread with a diameter of 0.8mm and a weight of 0.4g/m. Grade CT4 is recommended for very thin carbon coatings and for units with a smaller power supply. Grade CT4 shows better compatibility with carbon coaters made by Leybold, Baltec, Balzers, Denton and Fullam.

For thicker layers, the carbon fiber threads can also be double or tripled if the power supply in the carbon coater permits this.

Specifications of the carbon fiber threads for carbon evaporation

Safety Data Sheet for Carbon Fibers