PSL Spheres 20nm to 1um, NIST Traceability Size Accuracy
PSL Spheres, 20 – 900nm, Polystyrene Latex Spheres, 3000 Series
3000 Series PSL are excellent for use with any application that requires a NIST traceable size standard with a very narrow standard deviation. These PSL Size Standards are highly uniform polystyrene spheres calibrated within nanometers with NIST traceable methodology. One nanometer is 0.001 µm or 10 Angstroms. Nanosphere size standards are ideal for the calibration of electron and atomic force microscopes, as well as size calibration or wafer inspection systems, also referred to as SSIS or Surface Scanning Inspection Systems. They are also used in laser light scattering studies and colloidal systems research. The 20 to 900 nm range of spheres is convenient for checking the sizes of bacteria, viruses, ribosomes and sub-cellular components.
The Polystyrene latex spheres are available as uniform polymer spheres in a range of discrete sizes from 20 to 900 nanometers (nm). The spherical diameters are calibrated with linear dimensions transferred from NIST. Spheres are used instead of irregularly shaped particles to minimize the response of laser scanners which are sensitive to shaped particles. The standards are packaged as aqueous suspensions in 15 milliliter (mL) dropper-tipped bottles. The particle concentrations are optimized for ease of dispersion and colloidal stability. The spheres have a density of 1.05 g/cm3 and an index of refraction of 1.59 @ 589 nm, measured at 25 degrees centigrade.
Each package contains a Certificate of Calibration and Traceability to NIST which includes a description of the calibration method and its uncertainty, and a table of chemical and physical properties. A Material Safety Data Sheet, with handling and disposal instructions, is also available. PSL bottles are lot-numbered for convenient technical service and support after the sale.
PSL Spheres | 20nm to 900 nm |
Particle Composition | Polystyrene Latex, PSL Spheres |
Particle Density | 1.05 g/cm³ |
Index of Refraction | 1.59 @ 589nm (25°C) |
Bottle Size | 15 mL |
Expiration Date | ≤ 24 months |
Additives | Contains trace amounts of surfactant |
Suggested Storage Temp. | 2-8°C |
Bottle Size and Volume | 15ml (A) Bottle |
PSL Spheres, 20nm to 900nm, 3000 Series | ||||
Product Part # |
Nominal Diameter |
Certified Mean Peak |
Std. Dev & CV |
Solids Content |
AP3020A |
20 nm |
21 nm ± 1 nm |
Not determined |
1% |
AP3030A |
30 nm |
30 nm ± 1 nm |
Not determined |
1% |
AP3040A |
40 nm |
40 nm ± 1 nm |
Not determined |
1% |
AP3050A |
50 nm |
46 nm ± 2 nm |
7.3 nm (15.8%) |
1% |
AP3060A |
60 nm |
59 nm ± 2 nm |
9.9 nm (16.8%) |
1% |
AP3070A |
70 nm |
73 nm ± 2 nm |
5.7 nm (7.8%) |
1% |
AP3080A |
80 nm |
81 nm ± 3 nm |
5.8 nm (7.2%) |
1% |
AP3090A |
90 nm |
92 nm ± 3 nm |
7.0 nm (7.6%) |
1% |
AP3100A |
100 nm |
97 nm ± 3 nm |
4.9 nm (5.0%) |
1% |
AP3125A |
125 nm |
125 nm ± 3 nm |
5.4 nm (4.3%) |
1% |
AP3150A |
150 nm |
151 nm ± 4 nm |
5.1 nm (3.4%) |
1% |
AP3200A |
200 nm |
200 nm ± 4 nm |
3.4 nm (1.7%) |
1% |
AP3220A |
220 nm |
220 nm ± 4 nm |
4.6 nm (2.1%) |
1% |
AP3240A |
240 nm |
240 nm ± 5 nm |
3.7 nm (1.5%) |
1% |
AP3269A |
270 nm |
269 nm ± 5 nm |
4.2 nm (1.6%) |
1% |
AP3300A |
300 nm |
300 nm ± 6 nm |
5.1 nm (1.7%) |
1% |
AP3350A |
350 nm |
350 nm ± 6 nm |
5.3 nm (1.5%) |
1% |
AP3400A |
400 nm |
400 nm ± 9 nm |
7.3 nm (1.8%) |
1% |
AP3450A |
450 nm |
453 nm ± 9 nm |
7.9 nm (1.7%) |
1% |
AP3495A |
500 nm |
491 nm ± 4 nm |
6.3 nm (1.3%) |
1% |
AP3500A |
500 nm |
498 nm ± 9 nm |
7.9 nm (1.6%) |
1% |
AP3560A |
560 nm |
565 nm ± 9 nm |
10.0 nm (1.8%) |
1% |
AP3600A |
600 nm |
596 nm ± 9 nm |
12.2 nm (2.0%) |
1% |
AP3700A |
700 nm |
707 nm ± 9 nm |
8.3 nm (1.2%) |
1% |
AP3800A |
800 nm |
799 nm ± 9 nm |
4.8 nm (0.6%) |
1% |
AP3900A |
900 nm |
903 nm ± 12 nm |
4.1 nm (0.5%) |
1% |