E3000/E3100/K850/ K850WM Critical Point Dryers- Brochure

Quorum Technologies• Reliable, robust construction• Holders to suit most specimen requirements • Built in heating and cooling (K850)• Basic low cost systems (E3000 and E3100)• Proven systems – manufacturers of critical point dryers since 1971Four critical point dryers to meet the needs of SEM specimen preparation and wafer and MEMS drying applicationsE3000/E3100K850/K850WMCritical point dryersE3100K850K850WME3000LOT-QuantumDesign Europe. For your local contact click at: www.lot-qd.comE-Mail: info@lot-qd.comE3000/E3100/K850/K850WMCritical Point DryersCritical point drying is an established method for the controlled dehydration of biological tissue prior to examination in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Other applications include drying of MEMS, wafers, hydrogels and aerogels. The technique was ?rst introduced commercially for SEM specimen preparation by Polaron in 1970 and the original design concepts, which include a horizontal chamber, are still embodied in the design of the current E3000 and E3100 systems. A more recent addition is the K850 with a vertical chamber and built-in heating and cooling. The larger K850WM model is designed to dry a single 6” wafer.Safety is of course an important consideration with all pressure vessels.Should critical pressure and temperature be inadvertently exceeded, asafety bursting disc is ?tted to all four systems. The designs have beenindependently type tested to proof pressures in excess of the workingpressures and bursting disc rupture pressures.E3000/E3100The design of the E3000 and E3100 give unequalled visibility of the critical point drying process and an unsurpassed view of the ?uid level in the chamber. Unlike many of the more complex critical point dryer designs, it is much easier to see the phase change at the critical point.K850The popular K850 combines versatility and ease of operation. Built-in thermo-electric heating and adiabatic cooling allows precise temperature control. The vertical pressure chamber (32mm diameter x 47mm high) has a side viewing port, which allows a clear view of the liquid meniscus during processing. K850WMThe K850WM is a compact, bench-top instrument designed to critical point dry a complete 6” wafer. A convenient wafer holder allows rapid transfer and ensures that pre-drying does not occur.E3000/E3100Proven reliability – over 6,000 installations world-wide Simple robust construction – easy to maintain (there are no electrical components) – and many critical point dryer users carry out their own routine maintenance Horizontal chamber and large viewing window – excellent visibility of the ?uid level and drying process Large robust valves for draining of ?uids, ingress of CO2and venting of gas – the rapid ingress of CO2 helps prevents pre-drying of specimens Specimen handling – optional specimen holders for microscope coverslips and TEM specimen grids. Porous pots are available for fragile or very small specimens E3000The E3000 has a horizontally mounted pressure chamber measuring 30mm internal diameter x 82mm in length. The chamber has an external water jacket for temperature control and specimens are introduced via a removable rear door. The front of the chamber is ?tted with a 25mm diameter window which allows easy viewing of the liquid level. The standard specimen holder (“boat”) has three tissue baskets.E3100 Where increased chamber volume is required – for either size or quantity of specimens to be dried – the large capacity E3100 is available. The chamber dimensions are 63.5mm internal diameter x 82mm in length, with the specimen boat accepting three times more specimens than the E3000 (nine baskets).Valve and temperature controlDial gauges display pressure in the chamber and the temperature of water circulating through the external jacket. Three pressure valves permit easy connection to a liquid CO2 cylinder and allow liquid agitation and venting of the chamber. A source of hot running water is essential. Cooling water is also useful, especially for sequential process runs. The temperature of the E3000 and E3100 chamber is raised with a hot water supply. Mains (tap) water can be used but a more controlled method is by the use of the optional E3500 Thermocirculator, which is connected directly to the inlet and outlet of the water jacket. The temperature of the circulatory ?uid can be pre-set (e.g. at 37°C, just above the critical temperature). Alternatively the optional E4860 Recirculating Heater/Chiller can be used to pre-cool the chamber to below ambient temperature prior to loading specimens and later in the process to heat the chamber to the critical temperature.Specimen holder (boat)This allows specimens in the intermediate ?uid to be transferred into the critical point dryer. On sealing the chamber the intermediate ?uid begins to drain and can be replaced with liquid CO2. In this way, the specimens are never allowed to dry out during specimen loading and transfer.Both the E3000 and E3100 are supplied with a standard specimen boat. The E3000 comes with the E3000-01specimen holder and has a single slot with three tissue baskets. Specimens are loaded into each basket and the gauze lid is ?tted to seal the tops. The E3100 is supplied with the E3100-01 specimen boat and has three slots each with three tissue baskets, making a total of nine tissue baskets. Other choices of holders are listed under Ordering Information.Glass microscope coverslip holder (option)Specially adapted specimen holders allow glass coverslips to be held ?rmly during drying. The E3000-02 is designed for the E3000 and has a maximum capacity of seven coverslips. Similarly, the larger E3100-02 coverslip boat is available for the E3100 and has a carrying capacity of 21 coverslips.TEM grid holder (option)The E3000-1 holder will accommodate up to three 3.05mm TEM specimen grids.E3100-02 microscope coverslip holder for E3100E3000 (top), E3100 (below)E3000-01 standard specimen holder for E3000E3100-01 standard specimen holder for E3100E3500 thermo circulator (above)E4800 recirculating heater chiller (below)K850Vertical chamber with top ?lling and bottom drainingSide viewing chamber port – good visibilityBuilt-in adiabatic cooling and thermoelectric heating – accurate temperature control, no external water supply neededFine control needle valve pressure let down – precise control of decompression avoids potential damage to specimens by uncontrolled pressure releaseBuilt-in magnetic stirrer – enhances solvent exchangeTemperature monitoring and control with thermal cut-out protectionPressure monitoring with safety cut-out for over pressure Easy to operate valves – light ?nger pressure only is needed to open and close Product descriptionThe K850 is ?tted with thermo-electronic heating and adiabatic cooling with temperature control of +5°C cooling and +35°C during heating. This allows pre-cooling of the chamber to aid ?lling with CO2 and during the heating cycle ensures that the critical point is accurately obtained.The K850 is ?tted with three valves: ?uid inlet, ?ushing and a gas venting system which uses a ?ne needle valve to give controlled pressure let down. A built-in magnetic stirrer ensures thorough mixing of specimens with circulating ?uids. The standard specimen holder has 12 individual specimen wells (8mm diameter x 8mm high) and allows easy exchange and transfer to and from the K850. For very small specimens, porous pots (CPD800A) are available – see Ordering Information. K850WM170mm diameter process chamber – optimised for wafer and MEMS dryingVertical chamber with top-loading and bottom draining – ensures specimens do not become uncovered during dryingThermoelectric heating – accurate temperature controlFine control needle valve pressure let down – precise control Temperature monitoring and control with thermal cut-out protectionPressure monitoring with safety cut-out for over pressure Product descriptionThe K850WM has built-in heating and water cooling using the E4860 recirculating heater/chiller. This combination will give temperature control of down to +5°C cooling and +35°C during heating. This ensures the critical point is accurately obtained, avoiding excess pressures or temperatures, or the need to rely on pressure relief valves to control pressure during the heating cycle.The K850WM has a vertical chamber which allows top-loading of specimens. A viewing port is ?tted in the top plate for specimen observation. The exchange mechanism is simple to use and ensures specimens remain under liquid during loading.Specimen handlingSingle 4” or 6” wafers are held in a PTFE holding tray. The tray including wafer is immersed in acetone in order to remove all moisture from the specimen. After dehydration, the wafer and holder are transferred into the pre-cooled K850WM specimen chamber using the wafer transfer device. On completion of the critical point drying process, the wafer is removed from the chamber using the transfer device prior to further processing.For a full list of options and accessories please see Ordering Information.E3000-1 TEM grid holderB5222 standard specimen holder for K850B5222 standard specimen holder for K850 (assembled)K850K850WMEK4150 bulk specimen holder, including dividerCPD800A porous pot for small or delicate specimensCritical Point Drying – Theory and PracticeThe phase diagram (below) shows the pressure to temperature ranges where solid, liquid and vapour exist. The boundaries between the phases meet at a point on the phase diagram called the triple point. Along the boundary between the liquid and vapour phases, it is possible to choose a particular temperature and corresponding pressure where liquid and vapour can coexist and have the same density – this is the critical temperature and pressure. Critical point drying relies on this physical principle. Water in the specimen is replaced with liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) whose critical temperature for a realisable pressure of around 1,200psi is just above ambient (around 320C). Therefore if the water is replaced with liquid CO2 and the temperature raised to above the critical temperature, liquid CO2 changes to vapour without change of density. This avoids the surface tension effects which distort specimen morphology and ultrastructure. Since CO2 is not suf?ciently miscible with water it is necessary to use intermediate ?uids, such as ethyl alcohol and acetone, which are miscible with both water and CO2.Summary of the Critical Point Drying TechniqueChemical ?xation (biological tissue)?Dehydration (Increasing concentrations of intermediate ?uid (eg ethyl alcohol)?Transfer to critical point dryer (ensuring specimens do not dry out)?Liquid CO2 (soak and ?ush)?Raise temperature to above 320C?Dried specimensTriple PointSolid LiquidVapourBCATemperature in ºCPressure in Atm. (App. Nm2 x 105)1007570605-100 -90 -80 -70 -60 -50 -40 20 30 40 50CriticalPointof CO2Head louseNematode wormLiver tissue and blood cellsFibroblast cellsRabbit articular cartilageE. coli bacteria(Images courtesy of the Advanced Microscopy and Bioimaging Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University) Quorum TechnologiesOrdering Information NB: For a full quotation, including on-site installation and customer training, please contact us or our local distributorE3000 Critical point dryer with horizontal chamber (30mm internal diameter x 82mm length) and supplied with a E3000-01 specimen holder (boat). An external source of heating water is requiredE3100 Critical point dryer with horizontal chamber (63.5mm internal diameter x 82mm length) supplied with a E3100-01 specimen holder (boat). An external source of heating water is required E3000 and E3100 supplied with: a 1m liquid CO2 delivery tube, ‘O‘ring and ‘gasket‘ set (including window and door bonded seals), spare bursting disc and retaining copper washer, pressure test certi?cate and operating manualTemperature control options Heating and cooling: mains (tap) water can be used, alternately the following external temperature control units are available:E3500 Themocirculator for control of the heating cycle (no cooling)E4860 Recirculating Heater/Chiller to control heating and cooling cycles (please specify voltage)Other options and accessoriesE3000-01 Specimen holder (boat). Included as standard with the E3000E3100-01 Specimen holder (boat). Included as standard with the E3100E3000-02 Specimen holder (boat) for microscope coverslips (for the E3000)E3100-02 Specimen holder (boat) for microscope coverslips (for the E3100)E3000-01 Holder for 3.05mm TEM specimen gridsCPD800A Porous pots with lids, 12.7mm x 15.5mm (pack of 10) for small or delicate specimensK850 Vertical chamber 32mm Ø x 47mm H, with glass viewing port and safety shield Including: Magnetic stirrer located under the base of the chamber Controllable adiabatic cooling and heating with digital read out CO2 inlet valve, ?ushing valve and venting system and high pressure CO2 coupling hoseAL800019-1 Standard specimen holder with 12 individual specimen wells (each 8mm Ø x 8mm H)Options and accessoriesEK4140 TEM specimen grid holder EK4135 Glass microscope coverslip holderEK4150 Holder for bulk specimens (a single large specimen container)CPD800A Porous specimen pots 12.7mm x 15.5mm (pack of 10) for small or delicate specimensK850WM Large chamber critical point dryer for 6” or 4” wafers (EK3205) For a complete working system the following are required:E4860 Recirculating heater/chiller for cooling chamber (please specify voltage)EK3102 Carbon dioxide bottle heating system Critical point dryer liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) requirementsAll models require a cylinder of liquid CO2 ?tted with a siphon tube (normally indicated by a vertical white stripe on the cylinder). If there is any doubt regarding the presence of a siphon tube, advice should be sought from the supplier For full specifications, please see our website Distributed by:LOT-QuantumDesign Europe. For your local contact click at: www.lot-qd.comE-Mail: info@lot-qd.com