Silicon is a tetravalent metalloid semiconductor with a wide range of applications. It is a hard, brittle crystal with a grayish-blue metallic look. Silicon is frequently utilized in conjunction with natural minerals in the construction industry. Silicon is most well-known for its usage in the production of synthetic polymers based on polysiloxane polymers. Steelmaking, aluminum casting, and fumed silica manufacture consume the majority of ionized elemental silicon. A very little amount of high-purity silicon is used in the semiconductor electronics sector, yet it is a vital component in integrated circuits.
Alfa Chemistry provides one-of-a-kind surface coating customizing services for silicon substrates with functional surfaces that provide a variety of performance advantages in a variety of applications. You can improve the surface performance of nearly any silicon-related product with our easy-to-apply surface treatment solutions. Please feel free to collaborate with us to improve the usability of your product's surfaces!
Extensive Surface Modification Technology Options
Alfa Chemistry provides a number of surface coating technologies for semiconductor materials that can be used to functionalize the surface of silicon substrates and impart a variety of surface features. The following are some of our surface alteration technologies, but they are not exhaustive. Please contact us for more information on our technologies.
- Surface Waterproof Coating Technology - We can coat silicon substrates with hydrophobic and oleophobic qualities, making them highly water and oil resistant and effectively impermeable to all liquids.
- Adhesion Promotion Coating Technology - We can increase the surface adherence of silicon substrates by functionalizing their surfaces.
- Lubricant Coating Technology - To increase the surface friction qualities of functionalized silicon substrate surfaces, we can lubricate them.
Learn more about our hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings.
Learn more about our adhesion promotion coatings.
Learn more about our lubricant coatings.
Alfa Chemistry Coating Solution Cases
Case 1: Anti-friction polymer composite coating
Silicon is an ideal material for microelectromechanical system production in the semiconductor sector. However, because of its brittleness and hydrophilicity, it has a lot of adhesion, which causes a lot of friction and wear. Its application in MEMS development is limited as a result. Alfa Chemistry investigated alternate self-lubricating materials for MEMS and discovered an epoxy polymer resin that met their requirements (SU-8).
We used several fillers to reinforce SU-8 to make a composite coating, then mixed them to make a hybrid composite coating. The coatings were made using solid fillers like talc and liquid fillers like perfluoropolyether (PFPE). To obtain micron-level uniform thickness, the hybrid composite coatings are coated on plasma-treated silicon wafers using spin-coating processes.
Fig 1. Surface and cross-section images of the SU-8/talc/Graphite coatings with solid fillers. (Katiyar J. K, et al. 2022)
In comparison to the original SU-8, the hybrid composite coating of SU-8/Talc/PFPE had much higher hardness and modulus of elasticity, as well as a very low coefficient of friction. The surface qualities of the SU-8 coating changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic after blending with PFPE, according to wettability tests. Furthermore, the addition of solid and liquid fillers to SU-8 improved its thermal stability.
Why Choose Alfa Chemistry?
- We have extensive experience in surface coating of semiconductor materials.
- Our custom coated products are thin and green and safe.
- Our solutions are tailored to meet the unique needs of your product.
Reference
- Katiyar J. K, et al. (2022). "Physical, Tribological and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composite Coating on Silicon Wafer." Tribology International. 165: 107307.
