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See Also: [Carbon Fiber] [Pyrolytic Carbon Grids] [Vitreous Carbon Planchet and Carbon Planchets] [Carbon SEM Specimen Mounts] [Carbon Adhesives] [Carbon Fiber]

Carbon Products

carbon products
[carbon rods]     [PELCO® Single Pointed Carbon Rods]
[PELCO® Double Pointed Carbon Rods]    [Carbon Rod Sharpener]
[Two Step Carbon Rod Sharpener]     [Three Step Carbon Rod Sharpener]
[Possible Carbon Pointed Rod Shapes]     [Carbon Powder]

Carbon: Introduction

with permission, based on Ian M. Watt’s book1 and article4

  • Density: 2.2gm cm-3
  • Melting Point: around 3550°C
  • Evaporation Temp.: 2400°C
    • Temperature at which a substance has a vapor pressure of 1.33 x 10-2 mbar (arbitrary)
  • Average Thickness: 23nm at 5µg cm-2 in nm
  • Uses:
    • TEM substrates, replicas
    • SEM coating of non-conducting samples for x-ray analysis
    • EBSD: coating of non-conducting samples with an amorphous layer
    • Microprobe: coating of non-conducting samples with highly conductive layer
Carbon films are uniformly amorphous and highly transparent to electrons because carbon has a low atomic weight. Due to their strongly interconnected three-dimensional network structure, carbon films have remarkable mechanical stability, even when as thin as 1 - 2nm3.
At thicknesses used in electron microscopy from about 2nm upwards carbon films are chemically inert, continuous and basically free from self-structure except for a speckled appearance visible at only the highest magnifications.
Carbon depositions produce a film around the sides and back of specimens without specimen rotation (see EM picture to left). This may be explained by the deflection of light carbon atoms out of straight-line flight by collisions with gas molecules and with the walls or obstructions in a vacuum chamber.

References:
1. Watt IM, 1985. The principles and practice of electron microscopy. Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-25557-0.
2. Bradley DE, 1954. Evaporated carbon films for use in electron microscopy. Br J Appl Phys, 5, 65-66.
3. Hayat MA, 1981. Principles and techniques of electron microscopy, Vol 1 (2nd Ed), University Park Press.
4. Watt IM, November, 1991. Carbon - The electron microscopist’s most useful element. Microscopy and Analysis, pp 21-23.

The carbon rods are offered in either spectroscopically pure of technical grades for standard electron microscopy evaporation requirements using carbon coaters. Due to the purification process used all carbon rods we supply have a graphite structure. The purification process removes impurities at a high temperature and causes the carbon to crystallize. The graphite structure has no adverse effects on the carbon coating or the carbon coating process. The user might perceive an additional advantage: the carbon rods (graphite rods) are less brittle than the carbon rods and are easier to handle and easier to shape.


Technical grade carbon rods have a typical impurity level of around 50ppm or greater. Typical applications are non critical SEM or SEM/EDS coating of non-conducting samples.

"Spec-Pure" (spectroscopically pure) grade is available for carbon (graphite) rods with impurities equal or less than 2ppm (single element 1 ppm or less). Typically the impurity level is more likely 1ppm or less. This grade should be used for TEM, FESEM, FIB, WDS, EBSD, Microprobe and more critical SEM/EDS applications.

Sizes of Carbon Rods:
graphite rod sizes

Grade 1 Spec-Pure Carbon Rods

Spectroscopically pure graphite structure carbon rods with an impurity level of 2ppm or less with 1ppm as maximum level for each element. The rods are all 12" long with three nominal diameters (1/8", 3/16" and 1/4") to comply with the carbon source used in different high vacuum carbon evaporators. Highly recommended for TEM, FESEM, FIB, WDS, EBSD, Microprobe and more critical SEM/EDS applications.

Prod #DescriptionUnitQtyPriceOrder / Quote
61-15
Carbon Rods, Grade 1 Spec-Pure, 1/8" x 12" (3 x 304mm)
pkg/12
1
$39.80
Qty:
2-3
36.60
4+
33.70
61-25Carbon Rods, Grade 1 Spec-Pure, 3/16" x 12" (4.6 x304mm)pkg/12148.63
Qty:
2-343.77
4+41.34
61-35Carbon Rods, Grade 1 Spec-Pure, 1/4" x 12" (6.2 x 304mm)pkg/12154.30
Qty:
2-348.90
4+44.80

Note: Frequency Specific High Purity Carbon Rods for Cressington coaters
Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
for 110V, 60 Hz:
93015
Carbon Rods, Grade 1 Spec-Pure, 1/4" x 12"(6.15 x 305mm), 60Hz
pkg/10
$152.40
Qty:
for 220V, 50 Hz:
93016Carbon Rods, Grade 1 Spec-Pure, 1/4" x 12"(6.15 x 305mm), 50Hzpkg/10198.00
Qty:

Grade 2 Carbon Rods, Technical Grade

Technical grade graphite structure carbon rods contain impurities typically equal to or less than 50ppm. However, as an exception some batches can contain impurities up to 200 ppm. The impurities typically consists of: (ppm max.): Ca 20, Fe 20, Cr 10, Si 2-5, Ti 8-10, V 4-4 and traces of other elements. Use this grade for non critical SEM and SEM/EDS applications.

Prod #DescriptionUnitQtyPriceOrder / Quote
61-52
Carbon Rods, Technical Grade, Grade 2, 1/8" x 12" (3 x 304mm)
pkg/12
1
$39.90
Qty:
2-3
36.80
4+
34.10
61-62Carbon Rods, Technical Grade, Grade 2, 3/16" x 12" (4.6 x304mm)pkg/12147.30
Qty:
2-342.50
4+39.50
61-72Carbon Rods, Technical Grade, Grade 2, 1/4" x 12" (6.2 x304mm)pkg/12154.20
Qty:
2-349.10
4+45.20


double pointed carbon rods

PELCO Double-Pointed Carbon Rods

All pointed carbon (graphite) rods are made from spectroscopically pure (impurities <2ppm, no element more than 1ppm) graphitized carbon. Pointed carbon rods give improved evaporation procedures and enable consistent carbon coating.

1/8" dia. Carbon Rods
Double-Pointed Carbon,.120" (1/8") dia. x 2-1/4" long (3.05 x 57.1mm),
Tip: .039" dia. (1.0mm), neck type tips

Prod #DescriptionUnitQtyPriceOrder / Quote
62-107
Double-Pointed Carbon Rods, 1/8" dia. x 2-1/4" L (3.05 x 57.1mm)
pkg/10
1-4
$14.90
Qty:
5+
13.50

3/16" dia. Carbon Rods
Double-Pointed Carbon, .180" (3/16") dia. x 2-1/2" long (4.6 x 63.5mm),
Tip: .039" dia. (1.0mm), neck type tips

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
62-127
Double-Pointed Carbon Rods, .180" dia. x 2-1/2" L (4.6 x 63.5mm)
pkg/50
$65.50
Qty:

1/4" dia. Carbon Rods, .042" tip
Double-Pointed Carbon Rods, 1/4" dia. x 2" long (6.4 x 50.8mm),
Tip: .039" dia. (1.0mm), neck type tips

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
62-117
Double-Pointed Carbon Rods, 1/4" dia. x 2" L (6.4 x 50.8mm)
pkg/50
$68.50
Qty:

1/4" dia. Carbon Rods
Double-Pointed Carbon Rods, 1/4" dia. x 1-1/2" long (6.4 x 38mm),
Tip: .056" dia. (1.4mm), neck type tips

Prod #DescriptionUnitQtyPriceOrder / Quote
62-118
Double-pointed Carbon Rod 1/4" dia. x 1-1/2" L (6.4 x 38mm), for 108carbon/A
pkg/10
1-4
$18.25
Qty:
5+
16.98

Double Neck Tip Carbon Rods
Double-Pointed Carbon Rods, 1/4" dia. x 1-1/2" long (6.4 x 38mm),
Tip: .15 / .066" (3.8 / 1.6mm) double neck for Cressingtion carbon coaters

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
93010
Pointed Carbon Rods, Double Neck Tip, 1/4 dia. x 1.5" L (6.4 x 38mm), 60Hz
pk/10
$56.80
Qty:
93003Pointed Carbon Rods, Double Neck Tip, 1/4 dia. x 1.5" L (6.4 x 38mm), 50Hzpk/1090.20
Qty:
Use Carbon Rod Sharpener, Prod. No. 57-10, for re-sharpening graphite tips
57-10Two Step Carbon Rod Sharpener, for 1/4" rods (Cressington 108C & 208C)each136.30
Qty:
57-12Replacement Blades for Two Step Carbon Rod Sharpener, for 1/4" rodspk/217.20
Qty:

single pointed graphite rods

PELCO Single-Pointed Carbon Rods

spectroscopically pure, <2ppm
no element more than 1ppm

Nominal Diameters:
1/8" (3mm or 0.120" real)
1/4" (6.2mm or 0.242" real)

Rod Length: 2-3/8" (60.3mm)
Neck Length: 0.205" (5.2mm)
Neck Diameter: .045" (1.14 mm)

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
62-132
Carbon Rod, 1/8" dia. x 2-3/8" L (3 x 60.3mm), neck tip, single point
pkg/50
$43.75
Qty:
62-138Carbon Rod, 1/4" dia. x 2-3/8" L (6.2 x 60.3mm), neck tip, single pointpkg/3042.50
Qty:

graphite rod sharpener

Hand Carbon Rod Sharpener

Simple hand tool for sharpening Carbon rods into 1 millimeter cylindrical tips. Rod is inserted into tool and rotated by hand against an adjustable tungsten carbide cutter to the desired length.

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
57
Hand Carbon Rod Sharpener, for 1/8" size (3mm) rods
each
$44.00
Qty:
57-2Hand Carbon Rod Sharpener, for 1/4" size (6.2mm) rodseach68.20
Qty:
57-8Cutter Replacement for Carbon Rod Sharpenereach10.90
Qty:

2 step Carbon rod sharpener two step Carbon rod sharpener

Two Step Carbon Rod Sharpener

Hand tool for creating two step carbon rods for the Cressingtion Carbon Coaters. Graphite rod is inserted into tool and rotated by hand against two pre-set tungsten carbide cutters to achieve the correct steps. Comes with brass adjustment tool.

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
57-10
Two Step Carbon Rod Sharpener, for 1/4" rods (Cressington 108C & 208C)
each
136.30
Qty:
57-12Replacement Blades for Two Step Carbon Rod Sharpener, for 1/4" rodspk/217.20
Qty:

three step Carbon rod sharpener Carbon rod 3 level

Three Step Carbon Rod Sharpener

For creating a three level tip on 1/4" size (6.4mm) carbon rods. Offset is adjustable.

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
93012
Three Level Carbon Rod Sharpener, for 1/4" size rods
each
$192.00
Qty:

carbon points

Possible carbon pointed rod shapes and their setups. The top illustration, with neck rods, is usually preferred.

Graphite Powder

high purity +/- 2ppm, two types
4 oz. (113g) packages

Prod #DescriptionUnitQtyPriceOrder / Quote
SP-1 Natural Flake Graphite Powder, good for pelletizing
61-302
SP-1 Natural Flake Graphite Powder
4 oz pkg
1
$56.90
Qty:
2-3
51.20
4+
48.20
SP-2 Synthetic Graphite
61-304SP-2 Synthetic Graphite Powder4 oz pkg156.90
Qty:
2-351.20
4+48.20