Semiconductor: Raw material and manufacturing facility
The production of semiconductors involves a range of raw materials, such as:
Wafers made of silicon: Silicon is the primary raw material used in the production of semiconductors. Silicon wafers are small, spherical discs of pure silicon that are used as the building blocks for semiconductor chips.
Chemicals: A number of chemicals, such as acids, bases, solvents, and dopants, are utilized throughout the manufacturing process. These substances are used to produce thin films, clean silicon wafers, and alter the semiconductor material’s electrical characteristics.
Gases are utilized in the manufacturing process for cleaning, etching, and depositing. These gases include hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.
Photoresists: To imprint designs on silicon wafers, photoresists are light-sensitive substances. These patterns, which are produced using a method called photolithography, specify the characteristics of the semiconductor chip.
Materials for packaging: Semiconductor chips must be packed for usage in electronic devices when they are made. Lead frames, wire bonds, and plastic or ceramic packaging are some examples of packaging materials.
Overall, the highly specialized raw materials used in semiconductor production demand tight quality control to guarantee constant performance and dependability of the finished product.
Semiconductor manufacturing facility
The process of constructing a semiconductor manufacturing facility, sometimes referred to as a fab, is extremely complicated and expensive and calls for substantial financial resources, technical know how, and access to specialized materials and equipment. A semiconductor fab requires a number of essential resources, some of which are listed below:
- Capital: The cost to build a semiconductor fab can run from several hundred million to several billion dollars, depending on the size and complexity of the facility. It can be necessary to find investors or finance, such as from the government or venture capitalists.
- Land: A sizable parcel of land with convenient access to transportation and other amenities is required for the construction of the fab.
- Engineers, technicians, and operators who can design, construct, and maintain the intricate machinery and equipment involved in the manufacturing process are needed to develop a semiconductor fab.
- Wafer manufacturing equipment, chemical and gas distribution systems, and process control systems are just a few examples of the highly specialized equipment and gear needed in a semiconductor production facility.
- Materials utilized in the semiconductor manufacturing process, such as silicon wafers, chemicals, gases, and other materials, are all needed as raw materials in the semiconductor fab.
- Infrastructure: The semiconductor fab needs specialized infrastructure, such as cleanrooms and ventilation systems, as well as a steady supply of utilities like water, power, and gas.
- Quality control: To guarantee that each chip manufactured complies with stringent requirements and regulations, the semiconductor fab must implement a comprehensive quality control system.
In general, constructing a semiconductor fab necessitates a substantial commitment of money, knowledge, and specialized resources.