Silicon wafers come in a variety of different quality levels. In the silicon wafer manufacturing world, these quality levels are referred to as grades. The three types of wafer grades available are prime, test, and reclaimed. Each silicon wafer grade possesses its own properties and applications. Keep reading to learn more about wafer manufacturing and these three silicon wafer grades.
The highest grade of silicon wafers are prime wafers. Often referred to as ?device-quality? wafers, prime wafers are extremely high-quality and polished. Due to their quality, this grade of wafer is generally more expensive than test or reclaimed grade wafers. Prime wafers are used for various applications such as photolithography, particle monitors, and other high tech projects.
Test grade wafers are extremely similar to prime wafers, however, their cleanliness, flatness, and other specifications are usually less rigorous. As a result, they are a more affordable option than prime grade wafers. Test wafers are utilized for a variety of purposes. They are most widely used to test equipment and any other applications that require a large quantity of wafers.
Reclaimed wafers are used test or prime wafers that have been completely stripped and re-polished to remove all of the previous patterns, films, or surface defects. After the reclaiming process, this grade of wafer generally possesses the same standards as a normal test grade wafer. As a result, reclaimed wafers are suitable for most of the same applications as test wafers, but at a fraction of the cost.
If you?re interested in learning even more about wafer manufacturing or prime, test, and reclaimed grade wafers, contact us. As a leader in silicon wafer manufacturing, Wafer World can answer any and all of your questions. Furthermore, we can supply you with wafers to fit your specific needs, no matter the grade. Connect with our silicon wafer company online today!
