AccuCoat, Inc. reposted this
👉 The Customer Problem: Fragility and Thinness of Silicon Wafers One of the primary issues in coating wafers is their fragility. Silicon wafers are brittle and highly susceptible to shock or impact damage. Even a minor bump can cause the wafer to shatter, particularly for thinner wafers that can be as slim as 0.3 mm. Handling these delicate wafers becomes increasingly difficult as their thickness decreases, necessitating specialized handling and processing techniques. Glass, by comparison, tends to be more resilient, but the challenge remains with crystal-based wafers, which are more prone to breakage. 🥊 AccuCoat’s Solution: Custom Tooling and Coating Vibration Controls Given the fragility of wafers, custom tooling is essential for both cleaning and coating processes. For instance, ultrasonic cleaning, a common method used for removing contaminants from wafers, requires specialized tooling to accommodate the wafer's delicate nature. Therefore, our coating tooling is designed to eliminate any unnecessary vibrations and secure the wafer firmly in place during the process. Loose or rattling parts can easily lead to cracks or other structural damage, making it imperative that custom fixtures are used to ensure the integrity of the wafer throughout the coating process. 🎯 Our Specialized Coatings for Sensors and Optics In addition to the semiconductor industry, wafer coating plays a crucial role in optical applications. Sensor wafers, for example, are often patterned and etched onto the wafer surface before receiving an anti-reflective (AR) coating for specific wavelengths or diffractive patterns. This allows for micro-level steering of light, a key requirement for sensors used in optical systems. We have adapted our processes to coat on top of these patterns, ensuring that the final product meets the specific optical requirements. Some applications require hydrophobic coatings for added functionality, depending on the intended use of the wafer. For more information on wafer coating and handling, visit our website, or contact Mark Kfoury at coatings@accucoatinc.com for technical support for your specific wafer requirements. #optics #rocoptics #coatingexperts
