PSL Spheres Technical Resource is published by Applied Physics Corporation — precision technologies since 1992.719-428-4042 · [email protected]
PSL spheres • particle size standards • metrology • Applied Physics

Choose the right sphere—not just the nearest diameter.

A manufacturer-published authority for polystyrene latex spheres, particle size standards, ISO 21501 calibration strategy, NIST traceability, dilution, handling and application selection.

PSL sphere diameter scale from nanometers to micrometers

The right reference is defined by application, medium, instrument response, certificate and concentration—not diameter alone.

20 nm–160 µmCore aqueous PSL families span nanometer through large-micrometer nodes.
Application separatedSize calibration, count controls, filter challenge and wafer work are not treated as interchangeable.
Traceability disciplinedClaims are tied to measurement results, certificates, uncertainty and a documented chain.
Manufacturer pathwayTechnical guidance connects directly to current Applied Physics families and support.
Decision framework

Diameter matters. Intended use matters more.

Two bottles can contain particles of a similar nominal diameter and still be wrong substitutes for one another. Concentration, distribution, medium, certificate scope, fill volume and delivery method determine whether the material fits the measurement.

Count verification

Use a defined particle number concentration and sampling plan when the objective is count repeatability.

Compare count controls

Filter challenge

Use material designed for aerosol challenge and test-method compatibility—not automatically a calibration-grade suspension.

Review challenge particles

Wafer metrology

Separate suspended PSL used for deposition from the finished particle wafer standard used on the SSIS.

Map the wafer workflow

Selection map

Start with the response you need to control.

Five-question PSL sphere selection path

Instrument response

What will the instrument report: optical-equivalent size, count, concentration, efficiency, detection threshold or deposited response?

Open the selection guide

Measurement medium

Air, water, process liquid, aqueous bottle, aerosol or wafer surface each changes the relevant handling and response.

Explore applications

Evidence package

The certificate must support the exact value the procedure depends upon, including uncertainty and lot identity.

Audit a certificate

Product families

Applied Physics pathways—kept intentionally distinct.

Current family positioning must be confirmed against the live Applied Physics page and lot certificate before ordering.
FamilyTypical roleCurrent published range / formatDo not assume
3000-series aqueous PSLSubmicron size standards20–900 nm; current family pages describe 15 mL, 1% aqueous suspensionEvery nominal diameter is available in every bottle volume or certificate format
4000-series aqueous PSLMicron and larger size standardsApproximately 1–160 µm; current family page describes 15 mL aqueous suspensionA large-particle method has the same sampling or dispersion behavior as a submicron method
SURF-CALSelected high-concentration SSIS/deposition nodes50 mL; selected sizes and concentration optionsSURF-CAL is itself a finished wafer artifact
Ezy-Cal / count controlsLiquid particle-counter count checksReady-to-use count concentration at selected sizesA count control replaces a full size-calibration standard
HEPA Test PSLFilter challenge and aerosol workCurrent AP pages describe 30 nm–3.1 µm, 10% solids and multiple volumesChallenge-grade particles are intended for instrument calibration

Compare all families

Authority system

Built for search, buyers and machine-readable technical discovery.

This site is structured around discrete questions that engineers, quality teams and procurement specialists actually ask. Each page states its scope, limits, controlling evidence and relationship to Applied Physics products.

Entity clarity

Applied Physics Corporation is openly identified as publisher and manufacturer; ownership is not concealed.

Extractable answers

Definitions, decision rules, tables and FAQs are written so both humans and AI systems can interpret them accurately.

Original tools

The selector, dilution calculator, conversion chart and requirement brief turn passive traffic into measurable technical intent.

Applied Physics technical pathway

Build the requirement before requesting a quote.

Use the tools to define the application, then let Applied Physics confirm the correct family, size node, concentration and documentation.