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back to Apertures, page 1
back to Cleaning, page 1
back to Vacuum Evaporation Supplies

Platinum Flamers for Aperture Cleaning

Metal Boats for Cleaning and Evaporation

[Platinum Gauze Flamer] [Platinum Cup Flamers] [Tungsten Metal Boats]
[Tungsten Metal Boats with Alumina Barriers] [Alumina Coated Evaporation Source]
[Tungsten Boats without Alumina Barriers] [Molybdenum, Platinum, Tantalum Metal Boats]

Characteristics and Cleaning of Apertures

Platinum Melting Point: 1768°C
Molybdenum Melting Point: 2610°C
Tungsten Boat Melting Point: 3422°C
(With coated ceramic Al2O3 tabs)

Aperture contamination occurs when it is exposed to the electron beam, in which case regular cleaning or replacement is required. The smaller the hole, the more quickly contamination builds up and astigmatism increases. Dirty aperture systems make alignment difficult due to beam deflection caused by dirt charging up.

Platinum/Iridium apertures may be cleaned by flaming them and applying temperature where the aperture does not exceed a color of cherry-red (not white-heat). Bunsen burner or small flame devices (alcohol, butane) have been used for this procedure. About 10-15 seconds should be sufficient for this procedure. "Flamers" for this purpose are described below. The entire surface will reach the same color when completely clean.

Molybdenum apertures must be heated in a vacuum below 10-4 mbar. After proper vacuum is reached and current applied, a color of cherry-red is achieved. Use a tungsten boat. This will require about 20-30 seconds. Molybdenum apertures can be successfully cleaned more frequently and used again, than Platinum/Iridium.

Platinum/Iridium disc apertures can be flamed in our platinum gauze "Aperture Flamer" (No. 60001) for cleaning purposes. Other Aperture Flamers (No. 60003, 60004) are shown for Platinum/Iridium discs, small and large, and for hanging strip Platinum/Iridium apertures.

The cleaned aperture(s) should be inspected on a clean glass slide at 30-40X. The hole should be clean and round. Misshapen apertures should be rejected.

Bils RF, 1992. Electron Microscopy Laboratory Manual and Handbook, 2nd ed, Alpha Editions, 329p.
Chapman SK, 1986. Maintaining and Monitoring the Transmission Electron Microscope, Royal Microscopy Society, Microscopy Handbooks 08, Oxford University Press.

Aperture Cleaning

Platinum Gauze Aperture Flamer

Platinum Gauze cup and stem, with handle. Length 190mm; basket 8mm dia. x 9mm high.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

60001
PELCO Aperture Flamer
each
$326.00

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Small Cup

Platinum Cup Flamers

with small hole at bottom, removable cover and insulated handle

Standard Small Cup

For aperture discs (up to 6mm) or aperture strips while flaming. 4.7mm (3/16") diameter cup. 0.152mm (6 mil) platinum foil with 0.8mm (1/32") diameter hole to encourage a good air flow. A 0.76mm (30 mil) platinum wire attaches the cup to the heat resistant handle. A hook formed at the wire-cup attachment may be used for hanging an aperture strip and flaming

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

60003
Small Cup Aperture Flamer w. handle and cover
each
$457.00

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Large Cup

Large Cup

For aperture discs 6 – 12mm (1/4"–1/2") or aperture strips while flaming. A flat pan is fabricated from. 0.152mm (6-mil) platinum foil with a 0.8mm (1/32") diameter hole to encourage a good airflow. A 0.76mm (30-mil) platinum wire attaches the cup to the heat resistant handle. A hook formed at the wire-cup attachment may be used for hanging and flaming aperture strips.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

60004
Large Cup Aperture Flamer w. handle and cover
each
$520.00

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Tungsten Metal Boats

for Cleaning Molybdenum Apertures and Evaporation

Two of the tungsten boats listed on this page are a combination of the refractory metal tungsten and an alumina barrier (Al2O3) coating over the tab area. The exposed metal area comprising the bottom of the boat allows the sample to be in good thermal contact with the source. The barrier will tend to help concentrate the heat towards the center. The alumina barrier will inhibit an evaporant (if used as a sample instead of an aperture) from creeping toward the heat sink or from wetting the entire boat.
See other vacuum evaporation accessories

Tungsten Boats with Alumina Barriers

3-1/4" L x 1/2" W (82.5 x 12.7mm), trough: 1/4" W x 3/4" L (6.35 x 19.05mm) x 3/32" (2.38mm) deep.
Tungsten thickness: 0.010" (0.25mm).
Al2O3 = 0.010" (0.25mm) coating.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-2
Tungsten Boat- Al2O3 barrier, 1/4" x 3/4" trough, pkg/5
each
$59.90

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4" L x 1" W (101.6 x 25.4mm), trough: 5/8" W x 1-3/4" L (15.9 x 44.5mm) x 3/32" (2.4mm) deep.
Tungsten thickness: 0.010" (0.25mm).
Al2O3 = 0.010" (0.25mm) coating.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-3
Tungsten Boat - Al2O3 barrier, 5/8" x 1-3/4" trough, pkg/5
each
$102.50

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Alumina Coated Evaporation Source

Replaces alumina crucibles for some specific applications. Good heat transfer yet has alumina inertness. Evaporant does not wet the alumina: no resistant change of the boat when evaporant melts. Due to the non-wetting characteristic, the evaporant forms a sphere when melted resulting in a point source.
4" L x 1/2" W (101 x 12mm). Trough is a dimple: 1/2" diameter and 1/8" deep (12 x 3mm).
Alumina coated thickness 0.005" (0.127mm).
Tungsten thickness 0.010" (0.25mm).

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-4
Tungsten Boat, Alumina coated, 1/2" dimple, pkg/5
each
$51.60

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Tungsten Boats without Alumina Barriers

4" L x 1" W (101.6 x 25.4mm), trough: 1" W x 2-1/8" L (25.4 x 58.8mm) x 3/32" (2.4mm) deep.
Tungsten thickness 0.010" (0.25mm).

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-5
Tungsten Boat, 1" x 2-1/8" trough, pkg/5
each
$66.40

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3" L x 3/4" W (76.2 x 19.5mm), trough: 5/8" W x 1"L (15.9 x 25.4mm) x 1/8" (3.18mm) deep.
Tungsten thickness 0.005" (0.127mm).

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-6
Tungsten Boat, 5/8" x 1" trough, pkg/5
each
$34.40

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Thickness: 0.002" (0.05mm)
Overall length: 1-1/4" (32mm)
Trough: 1/2" L x 3/8" W (12.7mm x 9.5mm) x 1/32" (0.8mm) deep

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84
Tungsten Boat, 1/2" x 3/8" trough, pkg/5
each
$33.50

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4" L x 1/2" W (101.6 x 12.7mm), trough: 1-1/2" L x 1/2" W (38.1mm x 12.7mm) x 1/8" (3.2mm) deep.
Tungsten thickness: 0.010" (0.25mm).

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-7
Tungsten Boat, 1-1/2" trough, pkg/5
each
$39.35

Qty:

4" L x 3/4" W (101.6 x 19mm), trough: 1/2" W x 1-1/2" L x (12.7 x 38.1mm) x 1/8" (3.2mm) deep.
Tungsten thickness: 0.010" (0.25mm).

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-8
Tungsten Boat, 1/2" x 1-1/2" trough, pkg/5
each
$67.90

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3" L x 3/4" W (76.2 x 19mm), trough: 5/8" W x 1" L x (15.9 x 25.4mm) x 1/8" (3.2mm) deep.
Tungsten thickness: 0.010" (0.25mm).

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

84-9
Tungsten Boat, 5/8" x 1" trough, pkg/5
each
$56.60

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Molybdenum, Platinum and Tantalum Metal Boats

7.9mm W x 76.2 mm L (5/16" W x 3" L), trough: 4.8 x 12.7mm (3/16" W x 1/2" L) x .8mm (1/32") deep.
Thickness: 0.05mm (0.002").

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

81
Molybdenum Boat, 3/16" x 1/2" trough, pkg/5
each
$17.80

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82
Platinum Boat, 3/16" x 1/2" trough
each
149.00

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83
Tantalum Boat, 3/16" x 1/2" trough, pkg/5
each
43.60

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Molybdenum Metal Boat (long) for Strip Aperture Cleaning

Molybdenum Metal Boat (long) for Strip Aperture Cleaning.
12.7mm W x 76.2mm L (1/2" W x 3" L),
trough: 9.6mm W x 50.8mm L (3/8" W x 2" L x 1mm (.04") deep.

Prod # Description Unit Price Order / Quote

80-1
Molybdenum Boat, 3/8" x 2" trough, pkg/5
each
$26.30

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