InP wafers offer incredible properties and have a wide range of uses, making them a highly coveted type of semiconductor. Because of that, their price has been increasing the last few years and many manufacturers have experienced a shortage. To solve that, InP reclaimed wafers are key.
By polishing and cleaning a wafer, they can be restored to optimal condition, ready to be used another time. But how many times can InP wafers undergo this process?
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Compared to purchasing a new test wafer, an InP wafer used by a semiconductor fab can be substantially less expensively re-polished, reclaimed, and reused. In doing so, expenses are decreased without compromising the quality of the materials.
Depending on the rate of removal, wafers can be repolished or reclaimed up to three times. After wafers are inspected and sorted according to thickness, type, and resistivity, the reclaim process begins. After that, the wafers go through either lapping or etching, based on the kind of film or pattern on the wafer and its overall state upon incoming inspection.
The wafers need to be cleaned and repolished as soon as they are free of surface flaws. Last but not least, a thorough final inspection procedure verifies that the wafers are in excellent condition and prepared for reintroduction into the market by examining their particles and surface cleanliness.
Reclaiming InP wafers offers an incredible solution to semiconductor shortage, increasing costs, and even electronic waste accumulation. However, it is important that fab technicians handle and package wafers carefully if they plan to reclaim them, to avoid unnecessarily scratching or contaminating the wafer surface.
If you’re interested in learning more about our wafer manufacturing and reclaiming process, give us a call!
