Sputter Coaters
Quorum Technologies is proud to manufacture the internationally acclaimed, market-leading range of sputter and carbon coaters known as Q Plus Series. They are increasingly used in high-resolution microscopy, where an ultra-fine coating is a must.
Sputter coating is the standard method for preparing non-conducting or poorly conducting specimens before observation in a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Quorum offers low-cost, rotary-pumped sputter coaters for depositing non-oxidising metals – such as gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) – and turbomolecular-pumped coaters, suitable for both oxidising and non-oxidising metals, such as chromium (Cr).
In addition, Quorum has introduced the NEW Q150V Plus in order to offer improved ultra-fine coating, and this provides an ultimate vacuum of 1 x 10-6 mbar for superior results. In addition, large chamber sputter coaters are available for specimens up to 200 mm in diameter. Most Quorum coaters can also be configured for carbon evaporation using easy-change carbon rod and carbon fibre inserts.
Quorum is also a specialist in Cryo preparation techniques for cryo-SEM and FIB/SEM: These techniques are essential for the observation of biological, wet or beam sensitive specimens. For example, cryo sem electron microscopy removes the need for conventional preparation methods, such as chemical fixation and critical point drying. Instead, it allows observation of specimens in their natural hydrated state.
The PP3010 is a highly automated, easy to use, column-mounted, gas-cooled cryo preparation system suitable for most makes and models of SEM, FE-SEM and FIB-SEM. The PP3010 includes many unique but essential features: off-column cooling (no boiling liquid nitrogen on the microscope) and pumped storage of the cryo transfer device. The PP3010 has all the facilities needed to freeze rapidly, process and transfer user specimens. For low temperatures, it may be possible to utilize PP3005 SEMCool and PP3006 CoolLok as Cryo preparation stems.
If you are interested in getting a sputter coater or cryo preparation in order to improve the resolution of your micrographs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Labquip
