30
CLEAN ROOM
Contamination control
improves product yield
Semiconductor manufacturing occurs in the cleanest environments available.
The reason for this is to avoid any particulates in the manufactuing process.
Contamination control company Dycem discusses how control over clean room
will improve manufacturing yield
W
ith nearly 50% of the total cleanroom Particulates entering semiconductor
technology market in the semiconductor manufacturing
industry [1], semiconductor manufacturing Particles like human hair, dust or metal particles, if found in a
places a high premium on contamination control. This is semiconductor manufacturing area, can cover significant surface
because particles 0.3µm or larger can short-circuit and damage areas on microchips and render it useless. Semiconductor
a microchip resulting in huge financial losses for an industry manufacturing involves very delicate processes and takes place in
estimated by Reed Electronics Research to have reached Class 1 rated cleanrooms, which means that the cleanrooms must
$240billion in 2003 [2]. contain no more than one particle of contaminant greater than
0.5µm [3].
Wafer Fabrication
One of the most critical stages of semiconductor manufacturing
is the wafer fabrication process, in which the electronic circuit
is imprinted on the wafer material and layers of printed
circuitry laid on top of each other. Manufacturers usually
comply with detailed control measures, covering
management of materials, facilities and processes, in
order to prevent particles from getting on the wafer
surface or in between layers of wafer material.
How contamination enters the
wafer fabrication process
Studies by 3M have shown that over 80% of
contamination is carried into the cleanroom at
floor level by the feet of personnel and wheels of
equipment.
A research study by Dr. Caroline S. Clibbon
shows that Dycem contamination control floor
coverings and mats are over 99% effective in
preventing contaminants from entering a
critical area [3].
Using Dycem adjacent to products and
processes can be of immense benefit in
controlling airborne contamination.
Contaminants are usually lifted above critical
operating heights by vortices created by
physical movements of personnel during
manufacturing activities.
Further tests by M-con Technologies
have revealed that contamination control
flooring and mats can reduce contamination
at levels critical to operational height by
60% [4].
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com August 2008
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