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Substrates, Support Film Grids
for Transmission Electron Microscopy

Formvar      Formvar/Carbon      Carbon      Silicon Monoxide
formvar support film grid

PELCO® Support Films of Formvar, Formvar/Carbon, Carbon, and Silicon Monoxide are available on the following 3.05mm O.D. grids: 0.4 x 2mm single slot Cu, 75 mesh Cu, 200 mesh Cu or Ni, 300 mesh Cu or Au and 400 mesh Cu.

Support films on the finer mesh grids can withstand considerable handling during specimen preparation. Those on slot and 75 mesh grids require more gentle handling and are ideal for those applications requiring large viewing areas without grid bar interference.
Our popular line of NetMesh™ Grids (our trademarked lacey films) are available on 200 and 300 mesh grids. These robust films allow for viewing of specimens without interference from underlying support film material.
The complete PELCO® line of support films meets the requirements of most applications in all fields of electron microscopy.

Support Film Product Note, How Material is Layered on the Grid.

Consult "Applications Guide" for suggestions on support film choice.

Thickness of Support Films
The following is a guide to the relative thickness of the support films. The actual thickness varies depending on a number of factors during the deposition process.
1. Formvar Layer, measured with a Tencor Alpha-Step 200 profilometer:
All Formvar Films - 30 to 60nm.
2. Carbon Layer, measured with a Film thickness Monitor during evaporation:
On Formvar Stabilized with Carbon - 5 to 10nm
On Carbon Type-A - 15 to 25nm
On Carbon Type-B - 15 to 25nm
On Ultrathin Carbon Type- A - 3 to 4nm
On Ultrathin Carbon Film over Holey Carbon Film - under 3nm

We Offer Six Types of Support Films

PELCO® Substrates Overview
1. Formvar Coated Grids
01700-F
200 mesh
Cu
Formvar
pkg/50
01701-F
300 mesh
Cu
Formvar
pkg/50
01702-F
400 mesh
Cu
Formvar
pkg/50
01706
0.4x2mm
Cu
Formvar
pkg/25
2. Formvar Stabilized with Carbon
01802-F
75 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
01800
200 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/25
01800-F
200 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
01801
200 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/100
01803
200 mesh (thick)
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/25
01803-F
200 mesh (thick)
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
01800N
200 mesh
Ni
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/25
01800N-F
200 mesh
Ni
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
01753-F
300 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
01754-F
400 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
01806
0.4x2mm
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/25
3. Carbon Type B
Formvar with a heavier layer of Carbon
01810
200 mesh
Cu
Carbon Type B
pkg/25
01811
200 mesh
Cu
Carbon Type B
pkg/100
01910-F
200 mesh
Micron Reference
Cu
Carbon Type B
pkg/50
01813
300 mesh
Cu
Carbon Type B
pkg/25
01813-F
300 mesh
Cu
Carbon Type B
pkg/50
01810G-F
300 mesh
Au
Carbon Type B
pkg/50
01814-F
400 mesh
Cu
Carbon Type B
pkg/50
4. Carbon Type A
(a) Carbon Type-A Carbon support film of 15-24nm Thickness
01820
300 mesh
Cu
Carbon Type A
pkg/25
01821
300 mesh
Cu
Carbon Type A
pkg/100
(b) Ultrathin Carbon Type-A Carbon support film of approximately 3nm thickness
01822
400 mesh
Cu
Ultrathin Carbon
pkg/25
01822-F
400 mesh
Cu
Ultrathin Carbon
pkg/50
(c) Ultrathin Carbon film on a Holey Carbon Support Film
01824G
300 mesh
Au
Ultrathin Carbon on Holey Support Fillm
pkg/25
01824
400 mesh
Cu
Ultrathin Carbon on Holey Support Fillm
pkg/25
5. Silicon Monoxide
(a) Formvar Stabilized with Silicon Monoxide
01830
200 mesh
Cu
Formvar Stabilized with Silicon Monoxide
pkg/25
(b) Silicon Monoxide with Removable Formvar
01829
300 mesh
Cu
Silicon Monoxide w/removable Formvar
pkg/25
01829-F
300 mesh
Cu
Silicon Monoxide w/removable Formvar
pkg/50
6. Lacey Support Films
(a) Lacey Formvar Stabilized with Carbon
01881
200 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/25
01881-F
200 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
01883
300 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/25
01883-F
300 mesh
Cu
Formvar/Carbon
pkg/50
(b) Lacey Carbon Type A with Removable Formvar
01890
300 mesh
Cu
Lacey Carbon Type-A
pkg/25
01890-F
300 mesh
Cu
Lacey Carbon Type-A
pkg/50
(c) Netmesh™ Lacey Support Films
01887-F
300 mesh
Cu
Lacey Formvar film stabilized
with Silicon Monoxide
pkg/50

1. Formvar: A film of pure Formvar, with no stabilizing coating. These films are useful for your customized coating of stabilizing material or for the support of thin sections.
substrate grids
200 Mesh
substrate grid
300 Mesh
substrate grid
400 Mesh
substrate slot grid
0.4 x 2mm Slot

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01700-F
Formvar, 200 mesh, copper
pkg/50
$64.80
Qty:
01701-F
Formvar, 300 mesh, copper
pkg/50
64.80
Qty:
01702-F
Formvar, 400 mesh, copper
pkg/50
64.80
Qty:
01706
Formvar, 0.4 x 2mm Slot, copper
pkg/25
49.50
Qty:


2. Formvar, Stabilized with Carbon: A Formvar film covered with a "light" layer of carbon. The heat and electrical conducting properties of carbon help to stabilize the Formvar films when exposed to the electron beam. This is a resilient, all-purpose specimen support film, ideal for mounting thin sections and for applications using lower ranges of magnification. The 200M-TH grids (Prod. No. 01803 and 01803-F) are thicker and more rigid than normal and useful for many applications - particularly where a lot of grid handling is involved.
75 mesh substrate grid
75 Mesh
200 mesh substrate grid
200 Mesh
substrate grid
300 Mesh
substrate grid
400 Mesh
slot electron microscopy grid
0.4 x 2mm Slot

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01802-F
Formvar/Carbon 75 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 292µm
pkg/50
$69.50
Qty:
01800
Formvar/Carbon 200 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
40.00
Qty:
01800-F
Formvar/Carbon 200 mesh, Copper
pkg/50
69.50
Qty:
01801
Formvar/Carbon 200 mesh, Copper
pkg/100
129.80
Qty:
01803
Formvar/Carbon 200 mesh TH, Copper
pkg/25
42.80
Qty:
01803-F
Formvar/Carbon 200 mesh TH, Copper
pkg/50
75.60
Qty:
01800N
Formvar/Carbon 200 mesh, Nickel
pkg/25
45.00
Qty:
01800N-F
Formvar/Carbon 200 mesh, Nickel, approx. grid hole size: 97µm
pkg/50
76.00
Qty:
01753-F
Formvar/Carbon 300 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 63µm
pkg/50
69.50
Qty:
01754-F
Formvar/Carbon 400 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 42µm
pkg/50
71.80
Qty:
01806
Formvar/Carbon, 0.4 x 2mm Slot, Copper
pkg/25
55.90
Qty:

TH= Thicker Grids

3. Carbon Type-B: A Formvar film coated with a “heavier” layer of carbon. This is the strongest and most versatile support film we produce. It is stable in the EM under all operating conditions including high magnification with high beam intensity. The films can withstand vigorous specimen preparation techniques. If the carbon surface is hydrophobic, specimen suspensions can be applied to the Formvar surface.
support film grid
200 Mesh
Micron Reference Carbon Type B Support Film
200 Mesh
Micron Referencesubstrate electron microscopy grid
300 Meshsubstrate grid
400 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01810
Carbon Type-B, 200 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
$55.00
Qty:
01811
Carbon Type-B, 200 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 97µm
pkg/100
191.00
Qty:
01910-F
Carbon Type-B, 200 mesh, Copper, Micron Reference
pkg/50
120.00
Qty:
01813
Carbon Type-B, 300 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
55.00
Qty:
01813-F
Carbon Type-B, 300 mesh, Copper
pkg/50
99.50
Qty:
01810G-F
Carbon Type-B, 300 mesh, Gold approx. grid hole size: 63µm
pkg/50
129.80
Qty:
01814-F
Carbon Type-B, 400 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 42µm
pkg/50
99.80
Qty:


4. Carbon Type-A: Carbon support films with a removable Formvar on the opposite side of the grid. When the Formvar is removed, by dipping in solvent, a pure carbon film remains. (Note: The Ultrathin Carbon Film on a Holey Carbon Support Film, Prod. No. 01824, has no Formvar backing.) These films are stable under all EM operating conditions and are for use where the presence of a Formvar layer cannot be tolerated. Pure carbon films tend to be more delicate than those with a Formvar backing and require more delicate handling during specimen preparation than most other support films.

(a) Carbon Type-A: Carbon support film of 15 to 25nm thickness.
carbon support film grid
300 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01820
Carbon Type-A, 300 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
$60.00
Qty:
01821
Carbon Type-A, 300 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 63µm
pkg/100
217.00
Qty:

PELCO® Technical Notes, Removal of Formvar Film From Carbon Type-A and Silicon Monoxide Type-A Support Films, Product Numbers 01820, 21, 22, 22F, 29, 29F, 1890, 90F (PDF 81KB)


(b) Ultrathin Carbon Type-A: Carbon support film of approximately 3nm thickness.
support film grid
400 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01822
Ultrathin Carbon Type-A, 400 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
$63.50
Qty:
01822-F
Ultrathin Carbon Type-A, 400 mesh, Copper, approx. grid hole size: 42µm
pkg/50
109.50
Qty:

PELCO® Technical Notes, Removal of Formvar Film From Carbon Type-A and Silicon Monoxide Type-A Support Films, Product Numbers 01820, 21, 22, 22F, 29, 29F, 1890, 90F (PDF 81KB)


(c) Ultrathin Carbon Film on a Holey Carbon Support Film: Pure carbon support films with no Formvar backing. This new product has an even thinner carbon film which is mounted on a holey carbon film. The carbon support layer lying over the holes is less than 3nm in thickness and is the thinnest support film available. It is particularly useful for high resolution microscopy of low contrast particles and is also ideal for use with the Energy Filtering TEM.

0.26µm dia. Latex on Ultrathin Carbon Film on a Holey Carbon Support Film,
example of application. >
carbon support film grid
300 Mesh
support film electron microscopy grid
400Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01824G
Ultrathin Carbon Film on Holey Carbon Support Film, 300 mesh, Gold
pkg/25
$130.90
Qty:
01824
Ultrathin Carbon Film on Holey Carbon Support Film, 400 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
106.90
Qty:

PELCO® Technical Note, Ultrathin Carbon Film Supported by a Lacey Carbon Film on a 400 Mesh Copper Grid (77k PDF File)

PELCO® Technical Note, Ultrathin Carbon Film Supported by a Lacey Carbon Film on a 300 Mesh Copper Grid (153k PDF File)

5. Silicon Monoxide: Silicon monoxide produces a highly resilient support film which can withstand vigorous specimen preparation techniques. It has low background contrast, is stable under the electron beam and is less hydrophobic than carbon. We offer two types of silicon monoxide support films:

 (a) Formvar Stabilized with Silicon Monoxide: A Formvar film coated with a “light” layer of silicon monoxide.
support film grid
200 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01830
Silicon Monoxide/Formvar, 200 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 97µm
pkg/25
$56.90
Qty:


(b) Silicon Monoxide Type-A: Silicon monoxide with a removable Formvar backing on the opposite side of the grid. When the Formvar is removed, by dipping in solvent, a pure Silicon Monoxide film remains. These films are stable under all EM operating conditions and for use where the presence of Formvar cannot be tolerated. Pure Silicon Monoxide is more delicate than those with Formvar backing and require more careful handling during specimen preparation.
support film grid
300 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01829
Silicon Monoxide Type-A, Removable Formvar, 300 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
$65.80
Qty:
01829-F
Silicon Monoxide Type-A, Removable Formvar, 300 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 63µm
pkg/50
116.80
Qty:
PELCO® Technical Notes, Removal of Formvar Film From Carbon Type-A and Silicon Monoxide Type-A Support Films, Product Numbers 01820, 21, 22, 22F, 29, 29F, 1890, 90F (PDF 81KB)


6. Lacey Support Films - NetMesh™ Grids:
lacey support film grid

Lacey Support Film

A lacey network support film. The holes in the lacey support film vary in size from less than a quarter micron to more than 10 microns making them ideal for any type of specimen. Lacey support films are extremely strong and withstand vigorous specimen preparation treatment. The specimen material is supported by the film network but lies across or protrudes into the holes of the mesh. This allows high definition imaging without the effects of underlying support material. Lacey films can be used for specimens ranging from large crystals and other particulate material to virus particles. Smaller particles, such as viruses or bacteria, tend to adhere around the inner edges of the holes, an ideal situation for high resolution microscopy. Lacey films are also ideal for selected area electron diffraction imaging. We offer three types of lacey film:
 lacey support film electron microscopy grid
0.26µm dia. Latex on a Lacey Support Film, example of application.
lacey support film Molybdenum Trioxide Crystal on a Lacey Support Film, example of application

(a) Lacey Formvar Stabilized with Carbon: A Lacey Formvar film coated with a “heavy” layer of carbon.
substrate grid
200 Mesh
lacey formvar grid
300 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01881
Lacey Formvar/Carbon, 200 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
$68.40
Qty:
01881-F
Lacey Formvar/Carbon, 200 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 97µm
pkg/50
114.00
Qty:
01883
Lacey Formvar/Carbon, 300 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
68.40
Qty:
01883-F
Lacey Formvar/Carbon, 300 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 63µm
pkg/50
114.20
Qty:

(b) Lacey Carbon Type-A: A Lacey carbon film with a removable Formvar backing on the opposite side of the grid. When the Formvar is removed, by dipping in solvent, the Lacey carbon film remains. These films are stable under all EM operating conditions and for use where the presence of Formvar can not be tolerated. Pure Lacey Carbon is more delicate than those with Formvar backing and require more careful handling during specimen preparation.
electron microscopy grid
300 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01890
Lacey Carbon Type-A, 300 mesh, Copper
pkg/25
$68.40
Qty:
01890-F
Lacey Carbon Type-A, 300 mesh, Copper approx. grid hole size: 63µm
pkg/50
121.00
Qty:

PELCO® Technical Notes, Removal of Formvar Film From Carbon Type-A and Silicon Monoxide Type-A Support Films, Product Numbers 01820, 21, 22, 22F, 29, 29F, 1890, 90F (PDF 81KB)

(c) Lacey Silicon Monoxide on Formvar: A Lacey formvar film stabilized with Silicon Monoxide.
silicon monoxide on formvar grid
300 Mesh

Prod #DescriptionUnitPriceOrder / Quote
01887-F
Lacey Silicon Monoxide on formvar, 300 mesh, Copper, approx. grid hole size: 63µm
pkg/50
$114.20
Qty:

Support Film Grids,
Substrate Application Guide

This Support Film Application Guide will help you determine what support film to use for your particular transmission electron microscopy project. Once you have decided which substrate best suits your needs, you can go back up on the page for a listing of available Support Films and pricing.


B= Best;     G= Good Alternative;     -= Not Suitable

Substrate Application

 Formvar
Only		 Formvar
Stabilized with Carbon		 Silicon Monoxide
on Formvar		 Silicon Monoxide
on Type-A		 Carbon
Type-A		 Carbon
Type-B		 Is Lacey Film suitable for this application?
Applications requiring pure Formvar B - - - - - No
Bacterial Suspensions - G B B B B Yes
Cell fragment suspensions - B B B B B Yes
Diffraction studies - - G G B B Yes
EDS (energy dispersive spectrometry) - G - - B B Yes
High resolution microscopy - G G B B B Yes
High temperature techniques/ heating stage - - - G B - Yes
(Type A)
Low magnification microscopy G B B G G B No
Particulate suspension, biological - G B B B B Yes
Particulate suspension, non-biological - G B B B B Yes
Powders, dry - G B G G B No
Replicas & low temperature techniques G B - - G B Yes
(Type-A)
Thin sections G B G B G B Yes
Viral suspensions - G G B B B Yes

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Page Last Updated: June 10, 2010