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Tungsten filaments

Manufactured by Energy Beam Sciences (EBS) using the most recent advances in ceramic and metallurgical technologies these high quality, high stability EM filaments (EM emitters) exceed the specifications of the original microscope manufacturers. Available for all major microscope brands.

Advantages of EBS EM tungsten filaments:

  • Minimum tip radius for a coherent beam
  • Rigid attachment of filament wire to posts for increased stability
  • Fully stress relieved for enhanced lifetime
  • Polished post ends for better contact
  • Precise dimensions for minimal alignment adjustments
  • Better long term economy

Filament bases are made using high quality ceramic discs, exact size contact pins and high grade tungsten filament wire. Special jigs are used to produce the exact shape of the tungsten filament and to precisely align it with the posts before it is welded and then annealed in high vacuum to reduce stress in the filament. This guarantees optimum stability and maximum brightness with a longer lifetime and lower running costs.

There are filaments available for most current and previous makes and models of electron microscopes, including Carl Zeiss, Coxem, Hitachi, JEOL, Pemtron, Tescan and ThermoFisher (FEI).

See also our range of Kimball Physics LaB6 cathodes as an alternative to a replacement tungsten filament.

Electron microscope type or filament base

Product number (click on number for details)

Ceramic disc mm

Pin diameter mm

Pin pitch mm
AEI

VS-AE-N-10

12.0

1.0

6.45
AmRay /AMR (except 1200 series)

AR-AMRE-N-10

26.0

1.0

5.0
Cambridge Instruments (except S4-10)

VS-AE-N-10

12.0

1.0

6.45
CamScan with AEI conversion

VS-AE-N-10

12.0

1.0

6.45
CamScan with new Tescan Column

VL-TE-N-10

19.8

1.0

5.0
Coxem

CL-ISIE-2-N-10

23.4

1.2

12.0
FEI

VL-PE-N-10

26.0

1.0

5.0
Hitachi S-Type

VL-HO-N-10

9.8

1.2

2.7
Hitachi  with Cartridge TM series tabletop
3400N, 3700N, SU1500, SU3500

VL-HOC-N-10

9.8

1.2

2.7
ISI /ABT / Topcon 2-Pin

CL-ISIE-2-N-10

23.4

1.2

12.0
JEOL K-Type with metal ring

CL-JE-N-6

28.0

1.2

8.0
Leica

VS-AE-N-10

12.0

1.0

6.45
LEO 400 and 1400 Series SEM

VS-AE-N-10

12.0

1.0

6.45
LEO1450 (except AEI conversions)

VL-ZE-N-10

19.8

1.0

5.0
LEO TEM

VL-ZE-N-10

19.8

1.0

5.0
Pemtron

CL-ISIE-2-N-10

23.4

1.2

12.0
Philips V-Loop (PSEM500/EM200 and later)

VL-PE-N-10

26.0

1.0

5.0
Tescan

VL-TE-N-10

19.8

1.0

5.0
Zeiss DSM and TEM

VL-ZE-N-10

19.8

1.0

5.0
Zeiss EVO

VS-AE-N-10

12.0

1.0

6.45

The electron source performance table is provided to give additional information regarding the performance and requirements for different type of electron emitters. Tungsten cathodes are still used in the majority in SEMs and in general use TEMs. Improved results can be obtained with LaB6 cathodes, whereas the highest resolution can be obtained with either Schottky or cold Field Emission Sources which can only be used in suitable EMs.

Emitter Type Thermionic Thermionic Schottky FE Cold FE
Cathode Material W LaB6 ZrO/W (100) W (310)
Operating Temp (K) 2700 1800 1800 300
Cathode Radius (nm) 60,000 10,000 <1000 <100
Effective Source Radius (µm) 25 10 0.015 0.0025
Emission Current Density (A/cm2) 3 30 5300 17,000
Total Emission Current (µA) 200 80 200 5
Brightness (A/cm2.sr.kV) 1×104 1×105 1×107 2×107
Maximum Probe Current (nA) 1000 1000 10 0.2
Energy Spread @ Cathode (ev) 0.59 0.4 0.31 0.26
Energy Spread @ Source Exit (eV) 1.5 – 2.5 1.3 – 2.5 0.35 – 0.7 0.3 – 0.7
Beam Noise (%) 1 1 1 5 – 10
Emission Current Drift (%/h) 0.1 0.2 <0.5 5
Operating Vacuum (hPa/mbar) <10-5 <10-6 <10-8 <10-10
Typical Cathode Life (h) 100 >1000 >5000 >2000
Cathode Regeneration (h) None None None 6-12
Sensitivity to External Influences Minimal Low Low High

 

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