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The application of a thin film of heavy metal, commonly gold, to the surface of a specimen during preparation for scanning electron microscopy. Coating is particularly useful in preparation of biological specimens because it results in the production of many more secondary electrons and the improved conductivity helps prevent a charge building up in the specimen and causing image deterioration. Coating units are of several types; some use fine filaments as the source of coating metal while others, known as sputter coaters, have a large solid block of metal that is ionized by a beam of ions.
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