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Electronic Substrates

Resolving Your Surface Challenges
The way a substrate is polished can make or break the success of your wafer, device, and technology. We go beyond the consumable with our polishing slurries. At Saint-Gobain, we recognize that every processing step requires both a detailed review of the individual process and material and a broad review of all other finishing steps. From engineered slicing to optimized grinding to cost-effective lapping and precision polish or CMP, we look forward to helping you maximize throughput, minimize defectivity, and reduce your device cost.

Substrates We Specialize in

Silicon (Si)

Silicon (Si)

Silicon is the long-term, trusty, backbone of early semiconductor devices, generations of transistors, and advanced integrated circuits.  With its balance between cost and material performance, Silicon is one of many choices for MEMs, power electronics, and biosensors, each with their own industry needs.   Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning has recently re-engineered the standard Silicon polishing process to help our partners with capacity, evolving surface needs, and cost.

Applications
IC and Microelectronics, Transistors, MEMS, Power Electronics

 

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Silicon Carbide (SiC)

Silicon Carbide (SiC)

Monocrystalline Silicon Carbide is an evolving and growing substrate material that can take semiconductor chips to higher power at higher temperatures with higher efficiency.  The complexity and hardness of Silicon Carbide has enabled our development of new nano-abrasives and unique chemistries and formulations to cut, cool, and clean.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning now offers a full suite of products from cut to finish for Silicon Carbide substrates.

Applications
Power Electronics, Transistors, RF, NEMS, Logic, Memory

 

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Sapphire(Al2O3)

Sapphire (Al2O3)

Sapphire is the silicon of LEDs – high volume and low cost but materially capable of producing complex electronics. Sapphire’s surface enables high brightness LEDs and microelectronics with lower power consumption and resistance to radiation.  In addition, sapphire’s high mechanical strength and scratch resistance make it a top choice for optics, aerospace or defense windows, and other precision glass-like applications.  Saint-Gobain finAl alumina enables higher speed polishing, epi-ready surfaces, and a smooth transition to 6” substrates.

Applications
LED, SOS Microelectronics, Optics

 

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Gallium Nitride(GaN)

Gallium Nitride (GaN)

Gallium Nitride can be used as a substrate in applications that need a wide band gap and need to operate at both high frequency and high voltage.  For these reasons, Gallium Nitride is chosen for high brilliance LEDs and high output laser diodes in many applications including aerospace, satellite communication, and detection.

Applications
LED, Laser Diode, Power Electronics

 

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Aluminum Nitride (AlN)

Aluminum Nitride (AlN)

Aluminum Nitride is known for its high heat resistance, high mechanical strength, and abrasion resistance.  These properties make AlN an excellent substrate material for electronic packaging, diodes that emit UV wavelengths, and microelectronics, but also present a unique surfae to finish.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning has developed an introductory suite of products to help our clients push the limits of their AlN substrates and components.

Applications
UV LED, Optoelectronics, MEMS, Insulation and Packaging

 

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Silicon Nitride (SiNx)

Silicon Nitride (SiNx)

Silicon Nitride can be used as a substrate for applications that require both high thermal conductivity and strong mechanical properties.   Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning’s alumina technology enables scratch free polishing of monocrystalline and polycrystalline Silicon Nitride for a range of applications.

Applications
LED, RF Filters, Packaging

 

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Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3)

Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3)

Gallium Oxide has been reviewed as a next generation substrate material for use in lasers, phosphors, and possibly other power electronic devices.  Once commercialized at scale, Ga2O3 could present a new range of conductive and insulating properties for transparent substrates.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning is prepared to collaborate with key users of Gallium Oxide to define its finishing needs and capabilities.

Applications
Please contact us to discuss your application needs.

 

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Lithium Niobate & Lithium Tantalate (LN/LT)

Lithium Niobate & Lithium Tantalate (LN/LT)

LN & LT are piezoelectric and ferroelectric crystals that will be used as substrates for a wide range of acoustic and photonic applications because of their broad transmission range (visible to IR).  Devices using LN and LT can enable the 10X data rates required for the transition from 4G to 5G technology in wireless and broadband telecommunication.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning welcomes the opportunity to discuss surface finishing technologies for these materials with you.

Applications
Electro Optic (EO) and SAW Devices, Fiber Optics, Sensors

 

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Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)

Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)

Gallium Arsenide has been a longtime contender to Silicon due to its use in transistors that function at higher frequencies and in applications that require isolation between devices and circuits.   Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning offers baseline surface finishing solutions and process support to our partners in this field.

Applications
Solar Cells, Microwave Integrated Circuits, Laser Diodes

 

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Indium Phosphide (InP)

Indium Phosphide (InP)

Indium Phosphide competes with Silicon and GaAs for use in higher power and higher frequency devices.
Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning now offers a suite of polishing slurry solutions to enable defect and haze free surfaces at a faster rate than standard market solutions.

Applications
Optoelectronics, Nuclear detectors, Fiber Communications

 

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Quartz (SiO2)

Quartz (SiO2)

Single crystal Quartz has been historically used as a substrate for signal processing due to its high optical transmittance and low dielectric loss. As telecommunication moves towards 5G, quartz’s uses may shift.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning will be happy to discuss your evolving surface finishing needs for Quartz.

Applications
Signal processing, Photomasks, Optics

 

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Your Substrate

Your Substrate

As you develop new materials for electronics and new surface needs for these materials, please contact us to discuss technical solutions. We welcome a joint effort towards meeting your surface targets.

Applications
Electronics, Advanced Ceramics, and Hard Materials

 

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Substrates Process

Substrate Growing

Substrate Growing

As the global needs for advanced electronics continue to evolve, advanced materials are the key to their success.  As a result, crystal growth processes often present the most difficult technical challenges for our partners and customers.  At Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning, we do not grow crystals.  However, we do work closely with our internal and external partners and customers to understand crystal growth process challenges and provide polishing slurries that enable them to utilize the full range of their materials.

CONTACT FOR INFO

Substrate Slicing

Substrate Slicing

Our cut to finish processes begin with slicing – we aim to help our customers minimize material loss and bow/warp, maximize cut rate, and enable optimized grinding and lapping processes downstream.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning and Saint-Gobain Abrasives join forces to offer the right slicing process for your material, process, and cost targets.

Product Offering

  • Diamond Powder
  • Diamond Wiresaw Slurry
  • Fixed Diamond Wire
  • Engineered Wireslice Coolant

Related Products: Diamond Powder, Diamond Wiresaw Slurry, Fixed Diamond Wire, Engineered Wireslice Coolant

Substrate Slicing Expertise & Solutions:

  Sapphire Slicing   Silicon Carbide Slicing
 Slicing Solutions  Slicing Solutions

 

CONTACT FOR INFO

Substrate Grinding

Substrate Grinding

Many substrate materials can benefit from one or several grinding process to rapidly remove material, correct or optimize shape, and even achieve target surface finishes that can eliminate downstream processes.  Grinding solutions for electronics are offered in partnership with Saint-Gobain Abrasives (Norton and Winter).

Grinding Products

  • Back Grinding Wheel
  • Edge Grinding Wheel
  • Engineered Grinding Coolants
  • Engineered Cleaners

Related Products: Back Grinding Wheel, Edge Grinding Wheel, Engineered Grinding Coolants, Engineered Cleaners

Wafer Grinding Expertise & Solutions:

   Sapphire Grinding  Silicon Grinding
   Silicon Carbide Grinding   Aluminum Nitride Grinding
 Gallium Nitride Grinding   Silicon Nitride Grinding

 

CONTACT FOR INFO

Substrate Lapping

Substrate Lapping

The ideal lapping processes allows for consistent but rapid removal of subsurface damage while still achieving a defect-free prepolish surface.  Our lapping solutions are engineered to reduce variability by keeping abrasives suspended, eliminating damage or scratching, and in some cases allowing for recirculation or reuse for several runs.

Lapping Products

  • Premixed or ready-to-use Diamond Lapping Slurries
  • Engineered Lapping Vehicles
  • Engineered Cleaners

Related Products: Diamond Lapping Slurries, Engineered Lapping Vehicles, Engineered Cleaners

Wafer Lapping Expertise & Solutions:

  Sapphire Lapping   Silicon Carbide Lapping & Prepolish
   Aluminum Nitride Lapping &  Prepolish  Gallium Nitride Lapping & Prepolish
    Silicon Nitride Lapping & Prepolish   Indium Phosphide Lapping & Prepolish

 

CONTACT FOR INFO

Substrate Polishing & CMP

Substrate Polishing & CMP

Polishing & CMP processes for advanced materials require precise chemical reactions and gentle but efficient mechanical removal of material.  Our polishing slurries are based on highly engineered nano particles that are internally synthesized, sized, and modified to balance morphology and functionality with complex surface and surrounding chemistries. With our finishing slurries and interaction with our technical team, you can always expect efficient material removal and a defect-free, epi-ready surface.

Polishing & CMP Products

  • Polishing & CMP Slurry
  • Polish & CMP Pads
  • Polish, CMP, and Pad Cleaners

Related Products: FinAl Polishing Slurry, GaiN CMP Polishing Slurry, ClasSiC CMP Slurries for SiC Polishing

Polishing & CMP Expertise & Solutions:

  Sapphire CMP   Silicon Carbide CMP Solutions
  Silicon Polishing   Gallium Nitride Polishing & CMP
  Aluminum Nitride Polishing & CMP   Silicon Nitride Polishing & CMP

 

CONTACT FOR INFO
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