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- Denka Lab6 Filaments
Denka LaB6 Filaments
Overview
Rave Scientific offers Denka Lab6 cathode. The Denka M-3 LaB6 filaments are the industry standard, high quality LaB6 cathodes. The standard cathode with the 15µm round tip has a 90° tip angle, which provides a high brightness source coupled with excellent stability. Special versions with sharper 60° tip angle and smaller 5µm/10µm round tips are available for TEMs.
Denka uses the purest, high quality LaB6 crystals for the Denka LaB6 cathodes. The Denka LaB6 tip provides a 10x higher brightness as the standard tungsten source, resulting in better resolution with clear images and less noise. The lifetime of the LaB6 cathode is much longer than a tungsten source providing a stable source over a longer period. The LaB6 sources require a higher vacuum than standard tungsten sources which generally requires an additional ion-getter pump at the electron source. The required vacuum is in the 10-7 torr range.
Here are some listed advantages for Lab6:
- Longer Extended Life > 750 hours
- Improved performance for low KV imaging
- Advantages for TEM imaging and analysis
- Electron probe micro analyzers (EPMA or Microprobe)
- Improved stability for E-beam lithography
- Improved imaging in Variable and Low pressure SEM conditions.
Design and features of the Denka M-3 LaB6 EM cathodes
The Denka LaB6 EM cathode construction is similar to that of tungsten cathodes. It uses the same base with tungsten wires attached to the contact pins. Instead of a full tungsten loop, the LaB6 crystal forms the tip with the tungsten wires are cemented against the LaB6 crystal. In this design the LaB6 crystal is directly heated by the filament current through the tungsten wires and the LaB6 crystal. This unique construction has a number of features and benefits:
- Interchangeability: Denka M-3 LaB6 cathodes are designed as direct replacement for tungsten filaments and in most cases if there is an ion pump for high vacuum then an end user can use a Lab6 or Tungsten filament.
- The Denka Lab6 is suitable for SEM and TEM
- Direct heating design with tungsten wired cemented at the high purity LaB6 crystal
- High brightness; about 10x higher than tungsten filaments (even 20x for sharper tips)
- Stable sources; due to its durable and simple construction, the standard Denka M3 LaB6 comprises a stability of better than 3%/hour at 1550°C
- Long life; at 10-7 torr vacuum and 1550°C operating temperature, 500-2000 hours of lifetime can be expected for the standard M3 LaB6 cathode
- Low vapor pressure; reduced evaporation loss
- High melting point and stability at operating temperatures
- Low work function of 2.66ev (compared to 4.7ev for tungsten)
Please consult the following table for the correct type of LaB6 source for your SEM, TEM or Microprobe. The Denka LaB6 EM cathodes are available for FEI, Hitachi, JEOL, Amray, CamScan, Philips, Tescan, ZEISS, LEO, Leica, Cambridge Instruments and Leica electron microscopes.
| Lab6 Emitter | Standard Tip | Sharp Tip |
| Tip shape | 90°cone angle with 15µm round tip | 60°cone angle with 5µm round tip 60°cone angle with 10µm round tip |
| Brightness Value | 10x times than tungsten tip. 1 x 106 A/cm2.Str | 2x times than standard tip 2 x 106 A/cm2.Str |
| Saturation | Mono spot at around 1500°C | Mono spot at around 1500°C |
| Crossover | Small; 7-10µm | Small; 7-10µm |
| Angular Distribution | Sharp; 1.6 x 10-2 rad | Sharp; 1.6 x 10-2 rad |
| Lifetime | Approx. 500 - 2000 hrs | Shorter than standard tip |
| Ease of operation | Moderate | Difficult due to spot adjustment |
| Stability | High, better than 3%/hr | Lower, due to smaller spot |
| Vacuum Requirements | 10-7 torr or better | 10-7 torr or better |
| Work function | 2.66 ev | 2.66 ev |
|
Electron Microscope Type or Filament base |
Product number |
Ceramic Disc mm |
Pin Diameter mm |
Pin Pitch mm |
|
AEI |
12.0 |
1.0 |
6.45 |
|
|
AmRay /AMR (except 1200 series) |
26.0 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
Cambridge Instruments (except S4-10) |
12.0 |
1.0 |
6.45 |
|
|
CamScan with AEI conversion |
12.0 |
1.0 |
6.45 |
|
|
FEI TEM and SEM |
26.0 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
Hitachi S-Type |
9.8 |
1.2 |
2.7 |
|
|
JEOL K-Type metal ring - SEM - standard tip |
28.0 |
1.2 |
8.0 |
|
|
JEOL K-Type metal ring - TEM - sharp tip |
28.0 |
1.2 |
8.0 |
|
|
Leica |
12.0 |
1.0 |
6.45 |
|
|
LEO1450 (except AEI conversions) |
19.8 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
LEO TEM |
19.8 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
Philips TEM and SEM (except XL-30) |
26.0 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
Tescan |
19.8 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
|
|
ZEISS DSM and TEM |
19.8 |
1.0 |
5.0 |
Product #
Price
$814.00 each
Denka M3 LaB6 cathode, AEI Base, 90 degrees/15µm round tip for ZEISS EVO, LEO, Leica, CamScan, Cambridge Instruments and Philips XL-30 SEMs
Unit: Each
Product #
Price
$875.00 each
Denka M3 LaB6 cathode, 90 degrees/15µm for AMRAY SEM, FEI/Philips base, FEI TEM/SEM, Philips EM200 TEM & PSEM 500 and later (except XL-30)
Unit: Each
Product #
Price
$814.00 each
Denka M3 LaB6 cathode, Hitachi S-Type base, 90 degrees/15µm round tip for Hitachi S-, SU, H- and X-Series SEM and TEM
Unit: Each
Product #
Price
$895.00 each
Standard Denka M3-LKS LaB6 cathode JEOL K-Type base with metal ring, 90 degrees/15µm round tip for SEMs
Unit: Each
Product #
Price
$967.00 each
Sharp Denka M3-LKSH60S LaB6 cathode, JEOL K-type Base with metal ring, 60 degrees/5µm round tip for JEOL TEMs
Unit: Each
Product #
Price
$967.00 each
Sharp Denka M3-LKSH60 LaB6 cathode, JEOL K-type Base with metal ring, 60 degrees/10µm round tip for JEOL TEMs
Unit: Each
Product #
Price
$875.00 each
Denka M3 LaB6 cathode, Tescan base, 90 degrees/15µm round tip for Tescan SEMs - Denka M3 LaB6 cathode, ZEISS Base, 90degrees/15μm round tip for DSM series SEMs, TEMs, LEO TEMs and LEO 1450 SEM
Unit: Each