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 |
Ordering information:
-
Tungsten filaments for ISI
Tungsten filaments for ISI, Topcon (2 Prong) Standard Loop
£471.00 Add to basket -
Tungsten filaments for JEOL
Filaments-EM-Box/6
£285.00 Add to basket -
Tungsten filaments for Philips/FEI
Filaments-EM-Box/10-w/ FC-B-2
£235.00 Add to basket -
Tungsten filaments for Tescan
TescanV-Loop-EM Filament-Box/10
£307.50 Add to basket -
Tungsten filaments for Zeiss
Tungsten filaments for Zeiss V-Loop
£307.50 Add to basket -
Tungsten filaments for Zeiss
Filaments-EM-Box/10
£253.75 Add to basket -
Tungsten filaments for Hitachi
Filaments-EM-NEW PKG/10
£442.50 Add to basket -
Tungsten filaments for Hitachi
Tungsten filaments for Hitachi, Standard Loop Cartridge for Desktop SEMs
£742.50 Add to basket